
Class _L1L4___ 

Book.._BU:i3. 



CQEnUGKT DEWSfT. 





CtyLjA. 




i^Cc^. 



A HISTORY 



OLD BRAINTREE AND QUINCY, 



WITH A SKETCH OP 



KANDOLrn AND HOLBEOOK, 



WILLIAM S. PATTEE, M. D. 






QUINCY: 

PUBLISHED BY GREEN & PRESCOTT, 
No. Si Hancock Street. 

1878. 



Copyrighted, 1879. 
By William S. Pattee. 



*> 



ILLUSTEATIONS. 



V William S. Pattee, Frontispiece. 

XowN House, 109 

Robertson's Block, 175 

Old Unitarian Church, 234 

Unitarian Church, 242 

Episcopal Church, ....... 258 

Universalist Church, 260 

St. John's Catholic Church, 278 

Adams Academy, • 342 

Thayer Academy, 346 

^ Gen. Joseph Palmer, 486 

' Joseph Richards, 515 

' John Adams Green, 529 

''Benjamin V. French, i 578 



THIS WORK IS DEDICATED 

TO THE 

HON. CHAELES FEANCIS ADAMS, 

THE OLDEST LIVING REPRESENTATIVE OF A DISTINGUISHED FAMILY, 

WHOSE DEVOTION AND PATRIOTISM TO THEIR COUNTRY 

HAVE BEEN TRANSMITTED TO POSTERITY 

IN HER ANNALS. 

THEY WERE AMONG THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS AND EARLY SETTLERS 

OF 

OLD BRAINTREE AND QUINCY. 

FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME THEY 

HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY AND INTIMATELY ASSOCIATED 

WITH HER ECCLESIASTICAL, EDUCATIONAL 

AND CIVIL AFFAIRS. 

THE AUTHOR. 



PEEFACE. 



The compiler of this history of old Braintree and Quincy has 
endeavored to give a correct and faithful account of it. No one 
is more sensible than he of its deficiencies and shortcomings, 
which the reader must attribute to the want of skill in book- 
making, lie, as Strype relates in his annals, has "chosen to set 
down things in the very words of the records and originals, and 
of the authors themselves, rather than in my own, without fram- 
ing and dressing them in more modern language, whereby the 
sense is sure to remain entire as the writers meant it ; whereas, 
by affecting too curiously to change and model words and sen- 
tences, I have observed the sense itself to be often marred and 
disguised." 

For some years a history of old Braintree and Quincy has 
been demanded, and efforts have been made in the town to have 
one published, but without success. April 4th, 1842, the town 
in public meeting assembled, chose an able committee to wait 
on the Hon. John Q. Adams, and request him to write a history 
of old Braintree and Quincy, which request was with regret 
declined, for the want of time from important public duties. 
In 1827-8, Rev. Geo. Whitney published his history of Quincy 
in pamphlet form, of sixty-four -pages, which was valuable for 
the time, but was largely traditional. Hancock, Cutler and 
Lunt's century sermons, with occasional i)ublic addresses, con- 
tain all the written knowledge of the town. It is somewhat 
singular that a town so noted and distinguished as old Braintree 
and Quincy, should remain so long without a published record 
of her public events; a town that has furnished two presidents 
of the United States ; the first president of the Provincial and 
second of the Continental Congress ; eminent diplomatists, who 
ably and faithfully served their country in foreign courts of Eu- 
rope, viz.: Russia, Germany, Holland, France, Great Britain 

1 



PBEFACK. 



and others; profound judges, noted jurists, and many other per- 
sons eminent in the public walks of life ; two presidents of Har- 
vard University, and one tutor, Mr. Henry Flynt, who taught 
the youth in the earlier days of its existence longer than any 
other person, and longer than the corporation desired that any 
other person should teach, as after his death, a rule of limitation 
was enacted by the board of managers.^ The first governor of 



1. " Tutor Flynt, sou of the Rev. Josiah Flyut, of Dorchester, audgraudson 
of the Eev. Henry Flyut, of old Braiutree, was born in 1676, His early youth 
and most of his life were passed, either as a student or instructor, within the 
walls of Harvard College. He held the office of tutor fifty-five years. During 
sixty years he was fellow of the corporation, and through almost the whole 
period he also served as clerk of the Board of Overseers. He was respected by 
his contemporaries, and his name and character thus intimately interwoven 
with the history of the College, long continued favorite topics of reminiscence 
among its graduates. His learning and ability were sufficient for the several 
stations he occupied, and his zeal and fidelity in the discharge of his duty were 
unsurpassed. His long continuance in office evidences that he was useful and 
acceptable. He was mild in his notions of government, an advocate of gentle- 
ness in punishing offenders, and although the custom of the age required great 
solemnity in administering discipline, tradition represents him to have been 
ever ready to temper severity with a smile, often apologizing to them by re- 
marking that ' wild colts make good horses.' By constitutional temperament 
Flynt was inclined to firmness and moderation. Possessing a clear and dis- 
criminating intellect, he was also characterized by great steadfastness in opin- 
ion, but without obstinacy or obtrusiveness. In the religious controversies 
which divided the Province and broke the peace of the college, he oftener 
kept aloof than mingled, ' thanking God for their ignorance who thought 
him not Orthodox.' When occasion called, he preached discourses— serious, 
practical, and instructive, leaving doctrinal disputes to the contentious. 

" The experiment of a tutor seventy-nine years of age was sufficiently incon- 
venient, and caused the government of the institution to guard against a simi- 
lar occurrence in the future. Soon after the resignation of Mr. Flynt, a vote 
passed both boards " that no person chosen henceforward into the office of 
tutor shall abide therein more than eight years."— Quincy's Hist, of Harvard 
College, Vol. If, pp. 82-3. 

"At the time of an earthquake, when some students who had been waked up 
by the noise and shaking, ran to the room of their old, respected tutor, as if for 
shelter from nature's rage, he calmly said to them, ' Poh, boys! go back to your 
room; earthquakes never do any harm in these high latitudes.' In his cor- 
poral appearance, he was rather short and thick set. Some twenty sermons of 
his, and a Latin oration at the iuterment of President Wadsworth, were pub- 
lished." 

The following anecdote is an extract from an entertaining narrative written 
by David Se wall, of a journey from Cambridge to Portsmouth, in 175i, made 



PREFACE. XI 

the old Commonwealth was a native of the North Precinct of 
Braintree, and the country has been ably represented in her 
congressional halls by some of her citizens. 

Not only has the town been distinguished for its noted individ- 

by Tutor Flynt, of Harvard Colle.se, and Mr. Sewall, then an iinderiti-aduatc — 
afterwards Jiuljie Sewall, and friend of President Jolm Adams, among whose 
papers this manuscript was found, and rend by flie Hon. Charles F. Adams 
before the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1S7S. This narrative was pub- 
lished by the society, and is now to be found anions ifs printed proceedings: — 

"After dinner, we passed through North Hampton to Greenland, and after 
coming to a small rise of the road, the hills on the north of Piscatacjua Eiver 
appearing in view, and a conversation passed between us respecting one of them 
which he said was Frost Hill. I said it was Agamenticus, a large hill in York. 
AVe differed in opinion, and each of ns adhered to his own idea of the subject. 
During this conversation, while we were descending gradually at a moderate 
pace, and at a small distance and in full view of Clark's tavern, the ground 
being a little sandy but free from stones or obstructions of any kind, the horse 
somehow stumbled in so sudden a manner, the boot of the chair being loose 
on Mr. Flynt's side, threw Mr. Flynt headlong from the carriage into the road ; 
and the stoppage being so sudden, Lad not the boot been fastened on my side, I 
might probably have been thrown out likewise. The horse sprang up quickly, 
and with some difficulty I so guided the chair as to prevent the wheel passing 
over him ; when I halted and jumped out, being apiirehensive from the manner 
in which the old gentleman was thrown out, it must have broken his neck. 
Several persons at the tavern noticed the occurrence, and immediately came to 
assist Mr. Flynt; and, after rising, found him able to walk to the house, and 
after washing his face and head with some Avater, found the skin rubbed off his 
forehead in two or three places, to which a young lady, a sister of William Par- 
ker, Jr., who had come out from Portsmouth with him and some others that 
afternoon, applied some court plaster. After which, we had among us two or 
three single bowls of lemon punch, made pretty sweet, with which we refreshed 
ourselves, and became very cheerful. The gentlemen were Jolm Wendell, 
William Parker, Jr., and Nathaniel Treadwell, a young gentleman who was 
paying suit to jSIiss Parker. Mr. Flynt observed, he felt very well, notwith- 
standing his fall from the chair, and if he had not disfigured himself he did 
not value it. He would not say the fault was in the driver; but he rather 
thought he was looTiing too much on those hills. John Wendell was just upon 
the point of marrying to a.^Miss Wentworth, and he [Flynt] was asked if he 
had come at this time to attend the wedding. He replied he had not made the 
journey with that Intent, but if it hapi)ened while he was at Portsmouth, he 
should have no objection of attending it. 

" I was directed to pay for one bowl of the punch and the oats our horse had 
received, after which we proceeded on towards Portsmouth ; !Mr. Treadwell and 
Miss Parker preceded us in an open chair. William Parker was going on to 
Kensington, where he was employed in keeping school, and J. AVendell re- 
turned on horseback to Portsmouth. The punch we had partaken of was 



XU PREFACE. 

uals, but for its attempt in the early history of the Colonies, to 
establish several important and valuable industries. The first 
was the establisliment of an iron manufactory, in 1643 ; in Pro- 
vincial times, glass works, spermaceti, salt works and stocking 
weaving. The first and largest merchant ship for the East India 
trade was constructed within her limits. From her soil Avas dug 
the first huge boulders of syenite as a material for the construc- 
tion of substantial public and private buildings, which have 
adorned our cities and towns. In the western section of the 
village was built the first railroad in the United States, on 
which the first serious and fatal accident hajipened in New 
England. As far as the author can learn, the North Precinct of 
Braintree was the first town in the Colony to construct its 
meeting-house of stone. It was here that the first principles of 
liberal theology were taught by that able divine, the Rev. John 

pretty well charged with good old spirit, and Father Flyiit was very pleasant 
and sociable. About a mile distant from the town there is a road that turns off 
at right angles (called the Greek Road) into town, into which Mr. Tread well 
and Miss Parker (who afterwards married Captain Adams) entered with their 
chair. Upon which Mr. Flint turned his face to me and said, 'Aye, prithee, 
I do not understand their inotions; but the Scripture says, 'The way of a man 
with a maid is very mysterious.' " 

It was the custom in the early days of the college for students to present their 
tutor or professor who had heard their yearly recitations, a present of some 
kind. Hall, in his book of college words and customs, page 322, relates the 
following anecdote in relation to a present given to Tutor Flynt: — 

" Many years ago, some of the students of Harvard College wishing to make 
a present to their tutor, Mr. Flynt, called on him, informed him of their inten- 
tions and requested him to select a gift which would he acceptable to him. He 
replied that he was a single man, that he already had a well-filled library, and 
in reality, wanted nothing. The students, not all satisfied with this answer, 
determined to present him with a silver chamber pot. One was accordingly 
made of the appropriate dimensions, and inscribed with these words — 
' Mirif/ere cum hombis 
Res est saluberrima luinbis.' 

"On the morning of Commencement Day, this was borne in procession, in 
a morocco case, and presented to the tutor. Tradition does not say with what 
feelings he received it, but it remained for many years in a room in Quincy, 
[This room is still called Flynt's study in the house now occupied by Mr. Peter 
Butler, on Hancock street] where be was accustomed to spend his Saturdays 
and Sundays, and finally disappeared about the beginning of the Eevolutiou- 
ary War. It is supposed to have been carried to England." Tradition does 
uot relate whether it was deposited as a curiosity in the British Museum or not. 



PREFACE. XIU 

Wheelwright, in 1636, which so much annoyed the Separatists; 
the irerm of which was never eradicated, as it continued to grow 
until it hurst forth in the full sunlight of its glory under the 
ministrations of the Kev. Mr. Rriant, which society continues to 
exist as the First Church of the town. Calvinism did not get 
a foothold in the old North Precinct of Braintree until 1831. 
He has given these incidents in no boasting manner, but only 
to illustrate the many important events to be found in her 
history. 

He regrets that he has not been able to give a more extended 
slietch of the first church of Randolph. At the time he was 
writing up the churches, he desired the clergyman of this 
parish to furnish the material for it, but parochial duties so 
absorbed his time that he was unable to comply with the re- 
quest. Hence the reason why so brief a history of this old 
church has been given. 

It was his intention to have given sketches of the old land- 
marks of the town, but as the volume had greatly exceeded its 
specified limits, the publishers considered it not exj)edient. As 
he has the material it is his intention, at some future time, to 
have it published in a separate volume. 

The town records for some twenty-five or thirty years after 
its incorporation, are quite irregular and imperfect. After that 
period they proceed in regular order. For this early period of 
the town's history much more information can be gleaned from 
the Massachusetts Colonial Records. It is to be regretted that 
the First Church records, covering the period of the Rev. 
Messrs. Tompson and Flint's pastorate, are not to be found, as 
they might throw some light on the building of the first stone 
meeting-house. They were in existence at the time of the Rev. 
John Hancock's pastorate, as he makes frequent mention of 
them; after this they seem to have disappeared. Also, the 
book of possessions which contained a record of the allotments 
and divisions of the town's lands. The Xorth Preginct records 
begin in December, 1708, immediately after the separation of 
the second church from the first, and Mr. John Marshall (whose 
manuscript journal, hereafter referred to, is still to be seen in 
the Massachusetts Historical Library) was the first precinct 



XIV PREFACE. 

clerk. This record embraces the period from 1708 to 1792, or 
to the time of the separation of the North Precinct from Brain- 
tree, and incorporated ns the town of Quincy. From its incor- 
poration the parochial and town matters will be found blended 
together in the town records, until the final dissolution of 
church and town, in 1824. 

This volume has been compiled by topics, rather than in a 
chronological order. This he thinks the better method for a 
local town history. The matter has not been as methodically 
arranged as he had desired, or intended it should have been ; 
the delay in receiving important facts obliged him to give them 
somewhat out of the regular order. Ill health and business 
engagements is the compiler's apology for its many short com- 
ings. He would be greatly obliged to any one who will supply 
any valuable matter, or facts that may have been omitted or 
overlooked, so that in the future a more jjerfect history may be 
written. 

The compiler presents the manuscript of this history of old 
Braintree and Quincy to the town free of all expense to them. 
The price asked for the work will be only sufficient to compen- 
sate the publishers for its publication and expense of binding. 

To the various libraries, viz. : Boston Public, Massachusetts 
Historical, New England Historic Genealogical, State and Con- 
gregational, he would tend his warmest acknowledgments for 
their kindness in granting him the privilege of consulting valua- 
ble documents, original manuscripts, rare works and old news- 
papers. He is also under many obligations to Mr. David 
Pulsifer, of the State Department, for many favors, especially 
in deciphering old manuscripts, and to whom he always re- 
ferred, in verifying doubtful points, and to Dr. Edward Strong, 
of the State Archives. He cannot forbear mentioning the local 
historian, Mr. Charles P. Tirrell, from whom he received much 
valuable information ; also, Mr. E. W. Underwood, wdio has 
made a large collection of matter connected with the history 
of the town, and to all others who have in any way assisted 
or contributed to this volume, he extends his thanks. 



EAELY SETTLEMENT AND INCOEPOKATION 

OF THE OLD TOWN OF BKAINTREE. 



Captain John Smith, of Pocahontas notoriety, on his second 
voyage to America, his first being to the Virginia Colony 
sailed from the Downs, in England, on March 3d, 1614, and, 
as he relates,^ he landed at Monhegan, an island lying twenty 
miles southwest from the mouth of the Penobscot. Not meet- 
ing with success, in his search for whales, Smith, with eight men 
in a small boat, left the ships and the rest of the party to be 
employed in fishing, while he ranged the neighboring coast to 
the southwest in quest of furs. He says,^ " he availed himself 
of the opportunity to draw a map from point to point, isle to 
isle, and harbor to harbor, with the soundings, sands, rocks, and 
landmarks." On this map, which is annexed to his history, Quincy 
is given the metropolitan name of London, and the "signs of a 
castle and cathedral are annexed as indicative of its future 
prosperity and grandeur." 

In 1625, Captain WoUaston, with about thirty other adven- 
turers, came from England, and, in September of the same 
year, began a plantation near where tlie liouse of John Quincy 
Adams, Esq., now stands.^ Things not being equal to Wol- 
laston's expectations, lie left the Colony in the foU'owing year, 
and went to Virginia, leaving tlie phuitation in the hands of 
Lieutenant Filcher. 

1. Smith's Geuerall Historic. 

2. Smith's Generall Ilistorie, p. 207. 

3. The particulfir hill which caused the uanie of ]SIount, is in the farm of 
John Quincy, Esq., late one of the Council for the pt-oviuce.— Ilutchinsou's 
Hist., Vol. I., p. 8. 

2 



2 EAKLY SETTLEMENT AND INGOEPOKATION. 

Among those who remained at Mount Wollaston was a cer- 
^ tain Thomas Morton, a lawyer of CHfford's Inn, London, through 
whose instigation the settlers at the Mount rebelled against 
Lieutenant Filcher, compelling him to leave the Colony, and 
Morton was chosen the leader at the Mount. From this, dates 
the free and easy reign, of which so much has been said ; the 
two leading features of which were rioting and drunken- 
ness. Morton, by his kind treatment to the Lidians, secured 
their lasting friendship ; they keeping him and the rest of the 
company, constantly supplied with game ;^ thus showing how 
susceptible the Indians are of kind acts. 

Having no cares, they' gave themselves up to a gay and hilari- 
ous system of living, changing the name of the place from 
V Mount Wollaston to Merry Mount, where, as it is stated in the 
New England Memorial,^ " they setting up a May-pole,^ adorned 
with bucks' horns ; drinking and dancing about it, and frisking 
about it like so many fairies, or furies, rather ; yea, and worse 
practices, as if they had anew revived and celebrated the feast 
of the Roman's Goddess, Flora, or the beastly practices of the 
mad -Bacchanalians." 

1. "There are Geese of three sorts, vize. : brant geese, which are pide, and 
white geese which are bigger, and gray geese which are as bigg and bigger than 
the tame geese of England, with black legges, black bills, heads and necks 
black; the flesh farre more excellent, then the Geese of England, wild or 
tame, yet the purity of the aire is such, that the biggest is accompted but an 
indifferent meale for a couple of men. There is of them great abundance. I 
have had often 1000 before the mouth of my gunne, I never saw any in Eng- 
land for my part so fatt." — New England Canaan, Force II., V. 4G. "The, 
turkie, who is blacker than ours, I have heard several credible persons affirm 
they have seen turkie cocks that have weighed forty, yea sh-ty pounds; but out 
of my personal experimental knowledge I can assure you, that I have eaten 
my share of a turkie cock, that when he was puU'd and garbig'd, weighed 
thirty-nine pounds." — New England Earities, p. 41, " I have scene some lob- 
sters myselfe that have weighed IG pounds; but others have had, divers times, so 
great lobsters as have weighed 25 pounds, as they assure me." — Higginson'a 
New Eng. Plantation, 1. c, p. 120. The Indians, it seems, sometimes dried 
them, "as they do lampres and oysters; which are delicate breakfast-meat so 
ordered."— Josselyn's Voyages, p. 110. "The oysters be great ones, in form of 
a shoe-horn; some be a, foot long." — New Eng. Prospect, Ch. IJC. 

2. New Eng. Memorial, p. 136. 

3. Prince says, it was the only May-pole ever raised in New England. 



EAKLY SETTLEMENT AND IXCOEPOEATION. 3 

" The inhabitants of Pasonagessit (having translated the name 
of their habitation from that ancient salvage name to Ma-re- 
Monnt, and being resolved to have the new name confirmed for 
a memorial to after ages,) did devise amongst themselves to 
have it j^crformed in a solemne manner with Revels and merri- 
ment after the old English custom, prepared to set up a May- 
pole upon the fostivall day of Philip and Jacob, and therefor 
brewed a barrel of excellent beare, and provided a case of bot- 
tles to be spent, with other good cheer, for all comers of that 
day. And because they would have it iu a complete form, they 
had prepared a song fitting the time and present occasion. And 
upon May day they brought the May-pole to the place ap- 
pointed, with drumes, gunnes, pistols, and other fitting instru- 
ments for that purpose ; and there erected it with the help of 
Salvages that came thither of purpose to see the manner of our 
Revels. A goodly pine tree of eighty f oote was reared up, with 
a peare of buckshorns nayled one somewhere neare to the top 
of it; where it stood as a faire sea mark for directions how to 
find out the way to mine host of Ma-re-Mount. 

" And because it should more fiilly appeare to what end it was 
placed there, they had a poem in readiness made, which was 
fixed to the May-pole, to shew the new name confirmed on that 
Plantation ; which (although it were made according to the 
occurrent of the time, being Enigmatically composd), puzzled 
the Sepcratist most pitifully to expound it, which for the better 
information of the reader we have here inserted." 

THE POEM. 

" Rise CEdipeus, and if thou canst unfold 

What meanes Caribdis underneath the mould, 

"When Scilla Sollitary on the ground, 

(Sitting in form of Niobe,) was found; 

Till Amphitrites Darling did Acquaint 

Grim Neptune with the tenor of her plaint, 

Andcaus'd him send forth Triton with the sound 

Of Trumpet loud at which the Seas were found 

So' full of Protean formes, that the bold shore 

Presented Scilla a new paramore. 

So strange as Sampson* and so patient, 

As Job himself, directed thus by fate 

To Comfort Scilla so unfortunate. 



♦The man who brought her over was named Sampson Job. 



4 EAKLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 

I do professe by Cupid's beautious mother 
Here's Scosan's Choice for SciUa, and none other; 
Though Scilla's sick with greife, because no signe 
Can there be found of Vertue Masarline. 
Esculapius come, I know right well ; 
His laboure's lost when you may ring her knell. 
The fatal! sister's doome none can withstand, 
Nor Pitharea's powre who poynts to laud, 
With proclamation that the first of May 
At Ma-re-Mount shall be kept holly day." 

" The setting up of this May-i:)ole was a lamentable spectacle 
to the precise Seperatiste, that lived at New Plymouth. They 
termed it an Idol ; yea, they called it the Calfe of Horeb ; and 
stood at defiance with the place, naming it Mount Dagon ; 
threatening to make it a Avoeful Mount and not a Merry Mount. 

" The Riddle for want of CEdipus they could not expound, 
only they made some explication of part of it, and say'd it was 
meant by Sampson Job, the Carpenter of the shipp that brought 
■ over a woman to her husband, that had bin there long before, 
and thrived so well that hee sent for her and her children to 
come to him ; Avhere shortly after hee died ; having no reason 
but because of the sound of those two words ; when (as the 
truth is,) the man they applyed it to was altogether unknown 
to the author. 

" There was likcAvise a merry song made, which, (to make 
their Revells more fashionable,) was sung with a Corns, every 
man bearing his part ; which they performed in a daunce, hand 
in hand, about the May-pole, whiles one of the compimy sung, 
and filled out the good liquor like Ganymedes and Jupiter. 

"THE SONGE." 

" Dvinke and be merry, merry merry boyes— 
Let all your delight be in Hymen's Joyes — 
Joy to Hymen now the day is come, 
About the merry May-pole take a roome, 
Make greene garlons, bring bottles out, 
And fill sweet nectar freely about. 
Uncover thy head, and feare no harme. 
For hero's good liquor to keep it warmo. 

Then drinke aud be merry, &c. 

Joy to Hymen, &c. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 5 

" Nectar is a thing assigned 

By the Deities owne mind — 

To cure the heart oppress' t with greife, 

And of good liquors is the cheife — 

Then drinke, &c. 

Joj- to Hymen, &c. 

" Give to the niolancolly man 
A cup or two oft now and then; 
This physick will soone revive his blood, 
And make him be of a merrier moode— 

Then drinke, &c. • 

Joy to Hymen, &c. 

" Give to the Nymphe that's free from scorn. 

No Irisch stuff, nor Schotch over-worno; . 

Lasses in beaver-coats come away, 

Yee shall be welcome to us all the day — 

To drinke, &c. 

Joy to Hymen, &c. ^ 

" This harmless mirth made by younge men (that lived in 
hope to have wifes brought over to them that would save them 
a labore to make a voyage to fetch any over,) was much dis- 
tasted of the i:)recise Seperatists, that keepe much adoe about 
the tyth of mint and cummin, troubling their braines more than 
reason would require about things that are indifferent ; and from 
that time sought occasion against my honest Host of Ma-re- 
Mount to overthrow his undertakings and to destroy his Plan- 
tation quite and cleane. 

" It cannot but be remarked how very plausible Morton makes 
his conduct appear; — but not so, precisely, did it appear to 
our scrupulous but worthy forefathers. No excuse, perhaps, 
will be necessary for further extracts from his singular book. 

"The Seperatists, envying the prosperity and hope of the 
Plantation at Ma-re-Mount, (which they perceaved beganne to 
come forward, and to be in a good way for gaine in the Bea- 
ver trade), conspired together against mine host, especially, 
(who was the owner of that Plantation), and made up a party 
against him ; and mualered up what aide they could ; account- 
ing of him as a great monster. 

" Many threatening speeches were given out, both against his 



6 EAELY SETTLEMENT AND INCOEPOEATION. 

person and his habitation, which they divulged should be con- 
sumed with fire ; — and taking advantage of the time when his 
company, (which seemed little to regard theire threats), were 
gone up into the inlands to trade with the Salvages for Beavers. 
They set upon my honest Host at a place called Wessaguscus, 
where, (by accident,) they found him. The Inhabitants there 
were in good hope of the subversion of the Plantation at Ma- 
re-Mount, which they principally aymed at, and the rather, be- 
cause mine host was a man that endeavoured to advance the 
dignity of the Chiirch of England, which they, (on the contrary 
part,) would labour to vilifie with uncivile termes ; enveying 
against the sacred book of Common Prayer, and mine host, that 
used it in a laudible manner amongst his family as a practice 
of piety. 

" In breife, mine host must indure to he their prisoner untill 
they coi^d contrive it so that they might send him for England, 
(as they said), there to suffer according to the merit of the fact 
which they intended to father upon him ; supposing (belike) , it 
would prove a hainous crime. 

" Much rejoicing was made that they had gotten their cappi- 
tall enemy, (as they concluded him,) whome they purposed to 
hamper in such sort, that hee should not be able to uphold his 
Plantation at Ma-re-Mount. 

" The conspirators sported themselves at my honest host that 
meant them no hurt, and were so joccund that they feasted their 
bodies and fell to tippeling, as if they had obtained a great 
prize ; like the Trojans, when they had the custody of Hippeus' 
pine-tree horse. 

" Mine host fained grecfe ; and could not be persuaded either 
to cate or drinke ; because he knew emptiness would be a meanes 
to make him as watchfull as the Geese kept in the Roman Cap- 
itall ; whereon the contrary part, the conspirators would be so 
drowsy that hee might have an opportunity to give them a slijD 
insteade of a tester. Six joersons of the conspiracy were set to 
watch him at Wessaguscus. But hee kept Avaking, and in the 
dead of night, (one lying on the bed for further suerty,) uj:) gets 
mine host, and got to the second dore that hee was to passe, 
which, (notwithstanding the lock,) hee got open, and shut it 



EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 7 

after him Avith such violence, that it affriglitcd some of the 
conspirators. 

" The word which was given with an alarme was, O he's gon, 
he's gon, what shall we doe, he's gon. The rest half asleep 
start up in a maze, and like rames ran their heads one at another 
full butt in the darke. 

" Their grand leader, Capt. Shrimp, tooke on most furiously, 
and tore his clothes for anger, to see the empty nest and their 
bird gone. 

" In the mean time, mine host was got home to Ma-re-Mount 
through the woods, eight miles round about the head of the 
river Monatoquit, that parted the two Plantations — finding his 
way by the heljie of the lightening, (for it thundered as he 
went, tei'ribly), and there he prepared powther, three pounds 
dried for his present iniployment, and four good gunnes for 
him, and the tAvo assistants left at his howse with bullets of 
several sizes, three hundred or thereabouts, to be used if the 
conspirators should pursue him thether ; and these two persons 
promised their aides in the quarrell, and confirmed that promise 
with a health in good rosa solis. 

" After holding a Councell," continues Morton, " Capt. Shrimp^ 
takes eight persons more to him ; — and like the nine worthies of 
New Canaan, they imbarque with preparation against Ma-re- 
Mount, where this monster of a man, (as their phrase was,) had 
his denne — the whole number, (had the rest not bin from 
home,) being but seaven, would have given Ca])t. Shrinq), (a 
quondam Drummer,) such a wellcome as would luive made Iiim 
wish for a Drume as bigg as Diogenes' tubb, that hec might 
have crept into it ought of sight. 

" Now the nine worthies are approached and mine host pre- 
pared ; having intelligence by a Salvage that hastened in love 
from "VVessaguscus to give him notice of their intent. 

" The nine worthies coming before the Denne of this supposed 
monster (this seavcn-headed liydra as they termed liim,) began 
like Don Quixote against the wind-mill, to beate a i)arly and to 
offer quarter, (if mine host would yeald,) for they resolved to 
send hhn for England and bad him lay by his armes. 

1. Captain Miles Standish, 



8 EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 

" But mine host had no sooner set open the clore, and issued 
out but instantly Capt. Shrimpe and the rest of the worthies 
stepped to him, lay'd hold of his armes ; and had him downe, 
and so eagerly was every man bent against him, (not regarding 
any agreement made with such a carnall man,) that they fell 
upon him as if they would have eaten him. 

" Captain Shrimpe and the rest of the nine worthies made 
themselves (by this outragious riot,) masters of mine host, of 
Ma-re-Mount, and disposed of what he had at his Plantation."^ 

They sent him to England ; this was in 1628.^ "He returned 
again into the Country in some short time, with less punishment 
than' his demerits deserved, as was apprehended."* It was in 
August, 1629, that he returned. In September, 1631, he was 
again sent to England, his house being burnt, and liquors con- 
fiscated, by order of the General Court.* 

In 1634 he published a book, called, " New England Canaan." 
This book is a queer specimen of literature. In turning over its 
pages, you will see that it abounds iu nick-names; such as Capt. 
Shrimp, for Capt. Standish; Capt. Littleworth, for Endicott; 
Dr. Nobby, for Fuller, &c. Hutchinson says,^ " he came to New 
England again in 1643 ; a letter^ and a book, full of invectives, 

1. New England Canaan, pp. 139 to 142. 

2. 1828. The following assessments were made upon the scattered inhabi- 
tants of New England to pay the expense of the capture of Morton. The whole 
amount assessed for this purpose was twelve pounds and seven shillings. " Of 
this amount Plymouth has set against it, two pounds ten shillings; Naumkeak 
[Salem], one pound ten shillings ; Pascataquack [Portsmouth], two pounds ten 
shillings; Mr. Jeffrey and Mr. Burslem [Isle of Shoals], two pounds; Natas- 
cot, one pound ten shillings; Mrs. Thompson [Squantum], fifteen shillings; Mr. 
Blackstone [Shawmut], twelve shillings; and Edward Hilton [Dover], one 
povmd" — Belknap, Am. Biography, II., 334. 

3. New England Memorial, p. 140. 

4. "The smoke that did ascend appeared to be the very sacrifice of Kain. 
Mine host, (that a farre of abourd a shipp did then behold this wofull spec- 
tacle,) knew not what he should doe in this extremity; but bear and forbeare, 
as Epictetus sayes; — it was booteless to exclaime." — New Eng. Canaan, p. 1G4. 

5. Hutchinson's Hist., Vol. I., p. 32, note. 

6. *' My very good gossip. If I should commend myself to you, you would 
reply with this proverb, propria lausfordet in ore; but to leave impertinent sa- 
lutes and really proceed, you shall hereby understand that altho' when I was first 



EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCOEPORATIOX. 9 

which he liad wiitten, was produced against him ; lie was truly 
called the accuser of the brethren ; the Court fined him 100£. 
He was poor and nnahle to pay it, nothing but his age saved him 
from the Avhii)ping post." He went to Acamenticus, now the 
town of York, in the State of Maine, and there died about 1G45. 

From 1G84, can clearly and distinctly be traced the first per- y 
manent settlement of the town of Braintree. Previous to this 
time, those who came here were mere adventurers, as we have 
before stated ; who had no sympathy or interest with the civil or 
ecclesiastical sentiment of the permanent settlers of the Colony. 

The people that came to Braintree to settle were generally 
from the old Counties of Devonshire, Lincolnshire, and Essex 

sent to Englaiul to make complaint against Ananias and the brethren, I effected 
the business but superticially (through the brevity of time) I have at this time 
talcen deliberation and brought the matter to a better jmss, and it is brought 
about that the King hath taken the matter into his own hands. The Massachu- 
setts patent by an order of council was brought in view, the privileges therein 
granted well scanned, and at the council board, in presence of Sir K. Salton- 
stall and the rest, it was declared, for manifold abuses therein discovered, to 
be void. The King hath re-assumed the whole business iuto liis own hands, 
and given order for a general governor for the whole territory to be sent over. 
The commission is passed the privy seal, I saw it, and the same was sent to my 
Lord Keeper to have it pass the great seal, and I now stay to return with the 
governor, by whom all complainants shall have relief. So that now Jonas being 
set ashore may safely cry, repent j'e cruel schismatics repent, there are yet but 
fortj- days. If Jove vouchsafe to thunder, the charter and the kingdom of 
the Separatists will fall asunder. My Lord of Canterbury with my Lord Privy 
Seal, having caused all Mr. Cradock's letters to be viewed, and his apology for 
the bretlireu particularly heard, protested against him and Mr. Humfries that 
they were a couple of imposturous knaves, so that for all their great f.iends 
they departed the council chamber in our view witli a pair of cold shoulders. — 
1 have staid long, yet have not lost my labour. The brethren have found 
them.selves frustrated and I shall see my desire upon mine enemies. Of these 
things I thought good by so convenient a mes.^enger to give you notice lest you 
should tliink I died in obscurity, as tlie brethren vainly intended I should. — 
As for llatcliffe he was comforted by their lordships, with the cropping of Mr. 
Winthrop's ears, which shews what opinion is held amongst them of King 
"Winthrop with all his inventions and his Amsterdam and fantastical ordinances, 
his jneachings, marriages and other abusive ceremonies wliicli exemplify Ids 
detestation of the Church of England and contempt of his Majesty's authority 
and wholsomc laws. I rest your loving friend," 

"Thomas Mokton." 
"May 1, lH3i."— Hutch. His., Vol. 1., p. 31. 

3 



10 EARLY SETTLEMENT AKD IXCOllPORATION. 

in England. Jt appears by the laws of the Massachusetts 
Colony tliat Irish emigration was forbidden.-^ 

The tide of emigration to New England had now commenced. 
They soon found Boston was the most convenient for shipping 
and for trade, consequently the land upon that peninsular was 
quickly taken up. In the year 1634, what Avas then called 
Mount Wollaston, com])rising fifty square miles of territory, was 
annexed to Boston, as will be seen by the following order of the 
General Court: — "The Court hath ordered that Boston shall 
have convenient enlargement at Mount Wollaston, to be set out 
by four indifferent men, who shall draw a plot thereof and pre- 
sent it to the next General Court, when it shall be confirmed."^ 

On the twenty-fifth day of September it was "Ordered, lliat 
Boston have enlargement at Mount Wollaston and Ilumney 
Marsh." It will also be seen that by order of the Court that large 
tracts of land were given to certain inhabitants of Boston to 
come to the Mount and settle ; quite a number of those who re- 
ceived grants of land here did not come to Braintree^ to reside, 
but contimied to be domiciled in Boston, and held the land here 
as a matter of speculation. 

The first step was to give their pastor, the first minister of 

1. Which Avas owins, probably, more to their relij^ious views tlian their na- 
tionality. "Oct. 19, 1G52. Mr. Daniel Sellake, craving pardon for his offence 
in bringing some of the Irishmen on shore, hath liis fine remitted, so as the 
first opportunity be taken to send them out of this jurisdiction. Tlie said Mr. 
Sellake, on his request, hath liberty for the bringing another I;'/6.7*»i(ni on shorre, 
to endeavour his recovery, provided he give bond to send him out of this ju- 
risdiction when he is well." — Record of Mass., Vol. III., p. 2!)1. 

" Oct. 23, 1G52. Martlia Brenton desireinge an Irish boy and girle about the 
age of 12 years, for servants, hath her request graunted, so as the parties are 
proved before two magistrates to be born of English parents."— Records of 
Mass., Vol. III., p. 2i»4. Sed quere, How Irish if born of English parents? 

2. Rec. City of Boston, Vol. I., pp. 4 and 5. 

3. Mr. Adani-i in his aduiirablc address on tlie opening of the Town Hall in 
Braintree, July 29th, 1858, gives the following derivation of the name of Brain- 
tree:— "This name is variously written in ancient records. In the Domesday 
Survey, it appears as Branchetreu, which is said to be Saxon, and to mean a 
town near a river. In this particular the New England namesake is placed 
appropriately enough. Much more so, indeed, than the County in which it is 
situated. For here Norfolk is south of Suffolk. Other ancient designations of 
the town are Brauketre, Brauchetrefeu, Brauctoe, Brautreo, Bromptre." 



EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 11 

Boston, a ])lantatioii, and, " It was onlorod that Mr. Wilson 
the Pastor (in lieu of liis land granted liini at tlic North River 
by Mystic, which he shall pass over to the town of Boston) 
shall have as much land at the Mount Wollaston as he elects; 
and after, so much as shall be his jiortion of other lands be- 
longing: to this town; to be laid him out so near his other land 
at ]\rount Wollaston, as may be for his most convcniency." 

On the fourteenth of December, 1635, we find the following : 
"It is agreed by general consent that Mr. W. Colburne, Mr. W. 
Aspinwall, Mr. J. Sampford, W. Balstone and Richard Wright 
shall in behalf of the town, go and take view at Mount Wollas- 
ton, and bound out there what maybe sufficient for Mr. William 
Coddingtou and Edmund Quincy to have for their particular 
farms there ; and accordingly as they five or four of them shall 
agree upon to stand, and the same to be entered in this book." 

Immediately after this comes the following : — " Item, it is 
agreed that all the allotments at Mount Wollaston shall be set 
out by Mr. Coddington, William Colburne, William As]) in wall, 
Edmund Quincy and Richard Wright, or some four of them ; 
and that every allotment shall have a convenient i)roportion of 
meadow thereunto, according to their number of cattle that 
have the same."^ 

Many grants contained from two to five hundred acres such 
as those given to Coddington, Wilson, Quincy, Hutchinson and 
Wheelwright. John Winthrop, Jr., and others, in 1644, re- 
ceived a grant of three thousand acres for the encourao-emcnt 
of iron works. 

The town of Braiutree was incorj)orated- on the thirteenth 

1. Eec. City of Boston, Vol. T., p. TiO. 

2. "The petition of the inhahitants of Mount Wollaston was votc<l and 
pranted tlieni to bee a town according to the agreement with Boston; pro- 
vided, tliat if they fulfill not the Covenant made with Boston, & liearto 
affixed, it shabee in the power of Boston to recover their due by action .^gainst 
the said inhabitants, or any of them, and the town is to bo called Braintree. 
May 1.3, 1040."— Mass. Eec, Vol. I., p. L'!)I. 

The followiiij; is the Covenant, as agreed upon between Boston an<l the in- 
habitants of Braintree: 

"It was agreed with our neighbors of Mount Wollaston, vid:, William 
Cheesbrooko, Alexander Winchester, riich: Wright, James Penniman, i. c. iij x^ 



12 EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 

of Mny, 1640 (old style). ^ It comprised the tract of land now 
included within the bounds of the towns of Quincy, Braintree, 
Randolph and Holbrook. The principal settlement and busi- 
ness centre, of the town for the first half century from its 
incorportion, was in the North Precinct, i. e., what is noAV the 
town of Quincy ; the present town of Braintree constituted the 
middle and Randolph and Holbrook the South Precinct. 

the name of the rest, (for whom they undertooke, ) that they should give to Bos- 
ton 'i shs. the acre for 2 acr of the 7 ac formerly granted to divers m of Boston 
upon expectation that they should have continued still with us, and 3s the ac for 
every acre which hath bene or shallbee granted to any other who are not inhab- 
itants of Boston, & that, in consideration hereof, & after the said potions of 
money shallbee paid to the towne treasurer, all the said lands shallbee free 
from any town rates or charges to Boston; & upon the tearms, & also from all 
County rates assessed with Boston, but to be rated by the Court byitsselfe; 
provided, that this order shall not extend to any more or other lands than such 
as shall make payment of the said rates so agreed upon of 4s & 3s the ac; and 
upon the former consideration there is granted to the Mount all that Rockye 
ground lying between the Fresh Brook & Mr. Coddington brooke, adjoyning to 
Jlr. Houghs farme, & from the "West Corner of that farme to the southmost 
corner of Mr. Hutchinson's farme, to be reserved & used in common for- 
ever by the inhabitants & landholers there, together, with an other parcell 
of rockie ground near to the Knights Neek, which was left out of the third 
Company of lots, excepting all such ground lying among or near these said 
Kockye grounds, formerly granted in lots to particular persons.— INIass. Eec, 
Vol. I., p. 291. 

]. "Before 1752 the year was, by the legal method of comimtation, held to 
begin on the 2oth of March, Lady-day or Anunoiation, so called, from the 
notion entertained by the Church that the event recorded in the Gospel of Luke 
1: 2t)— 38, occurred on that day. The general practice of England had, indeed, 
several years earlier conformed to that of the rest of Christendom, in m.aking 
the first of January new-year's day; and the law at last followed the popular 
wisdom, as usual in the correction. It is of more importance, however, to re- 
mark, that, in reckoning the months, March was called the first, Pebruary the 
twelfth, September, October, November and December then having, consistent 
with their Latin entymology, the numerical rank which is now lost. Yet it is 
still more important to be noticed, that a very dangerous diversity existed, in 
styling the year by its old numerical until the 2oth March, or giving it the new 
designation from the beginning of that month." Another fact, that should be 
borne in mind, is the difference of the two styles, by which dates are reckoned, 
which may cause a discrejiancy of ten or eleven days. Up to 1.JS2, the old style 
prevailed, but in that j'ear, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the new system, by 
striking ten days out of the almanac of that year, calling the fifth the fifteenth 
of October, 1582, thus connecting the long accirmulated errors of the old method. 
The new style was not adopted in Great Britain and its Colonies until 1752. 



KARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 13 

Although incorporated in 1640, the town did not tlien get con- 
trol of all the land within its bounds, as appears by the following 
votes : — ^ " March 4tli, 1642. At a generale Towne's meeting 
upon lawfull warning, it is ordered, that the residue of the 
Towne's lands, not yet disposed of, excepting those that are lay'd 
out for Commons, at Boston, Braintry and Muddy River shall 
be divided amongst the present inhabitants." It also appears by 
the records that some of the Common was sold for the benefit 
of Rev. Henry Flint, the clergyman :— " July 29th, 1644. The 
land within the common fence at Braintry, neere Knight's 

Neckc, belonging to Boston, is hereby sold unto Matson, 

\ James Penniman, Moses Payne, Francis Elliot, for 5s. per acre, 
be it more or lesse, to be paid in corne or cattle Avithin one 
month, unto the hands of Henry Flint, of Braintry, for his own 
use, on consideration of his late great losse, through the hand 
of God's Providence, by fire." 

The South Precinct of the old town of Braintrce was incor- 
porated into a town on the ninth of March, 1793, and called 
Randolph. 

The people of Braintrce seem to have had a desire for all the 
land that they could get hold of, for in 1666, they sent a peti- 
tion to the General Court, asking for a nesv plantation of six 
thousand acres.^ The General Court saw fit to grant their 

1. Eec. City of Boston, Vol. I., pp. o'J aiul 71. 

2. At this early period (IGGO) the people came short of laud, for the reason 
that much of the best and ino.st available arable surface was held by non-resi- 
dents and citizens of Boston as a matter of speculation, and by others in large 
farms, that it was a .' ource of great inconvenience to the permanent inhabitants 
of the town, as they, in their poverty, were not able to pay the high rents asked 

' of them by the non-residents ; which deprived them of having sufficient land 
for carrying on their agricultural pursuits to any advantage, therefore they were 
obliged to petition the General Court for more land. 

"To the Honorable Cenoral Court now Assembled. The Humble Petitioners 
of the inhabitants of the town of Braintrce Humbly Sheweth. 

"That your Petitioners account itoi; u.;ij, Lei;ig t'lcrcunto moved from the 
necessity that lyeth upon the inhabitants of the Town already, although it is our 
grief that we are constrained to he troublesome, to make our application to this 
Honorable Court for some help and relief for our comfortable accommodation in 
jioint of Lands, in thi.s respect the Township is very poor; and never having any 
land granted them free, except some five or six of the ancient inhabitants now 
dwelling there, nor Commonage but what they hn\e purchased, which is not 



14 EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION, 

petition, for on the tenth of October, they passed the fol- 
lowing vote : " In answer of the inhabitants of Braintry, the 
Court on consideration of the reason therein expressed judge 
meet to grant unto them six thousand acres of land, in some 
place, limited to one i^lace, not prejudicing any plantation or 
particular grant." They selected a tract of land laying between 
Braintree and Plymouth but the General Court would not let 
them have this : 

"31 May, 1670. In answer to the petition of Braintry, sub- 
scribed by their Selectmen, humbly desiring this Court's favor to 
confirm unto them their six thousand acres, granted to them for 
their engagement, in a place they have found lying between 

two thonsaiul acres, and that is very iDOor and barren land, the rest of that little 
portion of land which the inhabitants have obtained by purchase, and the town 
consisting of a considerable number of inhabitants and still multiplying, are 
already much straightened, as a great part of the Town being in farms, which 
consist of the best Lands, with many small lotts also which belong to Gentlemen 
and friends of other Towns, which several of our inhabitants are iiiforced by 
their wants to hire of them at dear rates, they having not any lands to give out, 
neither for their enlargement of Tillage, although that little land which they 
have is much worn out, nor yet to pasture upon for the Summer time those 
cattle which they must be necessitated to raise and keep. The consideration of _ 
these things, herein presented, in respect of their present necessity, as also the 
Court's readiness to afford their help and grant relief to others, whomsoever 
which we are apt to conceive their streights could be greater than ours be, doth 
embolden us Humbly to request and entreat the Honorable Court to take our 
case into their serious consideration, and if it may stand with your pleasure to 
grant unto us a quantity of six thousand acres of land in some place so as may 
be a relief to the inhabitants of the Town, which we hope will he according to 
God and no detriment to any other Township, and j'our Petitioners, as in duty 
bound, shall always pray." 

" At a General Court held at Boston, 1 1th October, 1(560: 

"In answer to the Petition of the Inhabitants of Braintree, the Court on Con- 
sideration of the Reasons therein expressed, judge meet to grant unto them six- 
thousand acres of Land in some place, limited to one place not prejudicing any 
plantation or particular grant. 

"That what is above written is a true copy of the original Petition exhibited 
to the General Court, and their answer thereunto, ns attest, Edw. Bawson, Sect. 

"Braintree, l!)th October, KiGC We, the Splectmen of Braintree, presenting 
a Petition in behalf of the inhabitants of to tlie General Court, by Ensign 
Moses Pain, our Deputy, Dated the l!ith of this instant, as attested by Samuel 
Bas.s, Richard Brackett, Edmund (^uincy, and William Needom." — Mass. 
Arch., Vol. 105, p. 7. 



EAKLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 15 

their township and Plymoutli. The Court sees no cause to 
grant tliis petition." 

Nothing more seems to have been done about this grant until 
1713, when the people waked so far as to choose a Committee to 
search the records and see if the right had expired ; evidently 
they came to the conclusion that it had not ; for they chose 
another Committee who ajjpeared before the General Court and 
got their former grant confirmed. 

This time tliey selected a tract of land where the town of 
New Braintree now is, in the County of Worcester. The land 
was sold in lots, and the proceeds divided between the pre- 
cincts. Some few went from Braintree to settle this now town. 

During the revolutionary Avar, some agitation as to the prob- 
able value of Avliat were once called the Hampshire grants 
became perceptible in the older towns of Massachusetts. The 
opportunity offered of getting lots at a very small price induced 
many to emigrate from this place ; they formed the town of 
Braintree in the State of Vermont. 

Another act of colonization took j)lace in 1645, Avhen several 
inhabitants of Braintree asked the General Court, and were 
granted a right to settle with Gorton.^ 

1. Gorton was a religious fanatic, who was banished from Massachusetts 
and settled in Rhode Island. 

" It is ordered that Samuel Gorton shall be confined to Charlestowne, tliere to 
be set on worke, and to weare such boults or irons as may hind'r his escape, 
and to continue dureing the pleasure of the Cor't; p'vided that if hee sliall 
breake his said confinem't, or shall in the meane time, either by speaeh or 
writing, publish, declare, or niaintaine any of the blasiihemos or abominable 
heresies wherew'th hee hath bene charged by the Generall Co'rt, contained in 
either of the two books sent unto us by him or Handle Holden, or shall reproach 
repve the churches of o'r Lord Jesus Christ in these United Colonies, or 
the civill governm't, or the public ordinances of God therein (unless it bee by 
answere to some question ppounded to him or conference w'th any elder, or w'th 
any other licensed to speake w'th him privately, under the hand of one of the 
Assistants) that immediately upon accusation of any such writing or speach, 
hee shall by such Assistant, to whom such accusation shallbee brought, beo 
committed to prison, till the next Co'rt of Assistants, then and there to bee 
I trycd by a Jury, whether hee hath so spoken or written, and upon his convic- 
; tion theereof shallbee condemned to death and executed." Dated the 3d of the 
1i)th m., I(hl3.— Mass. Eec, II., p. 52. 

\ 1G43. " The Charge of the Prisoners, Samu : Gortou & his Comp'a." — " Upon 



16 EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPOKATION. 

"Oct. 7, 1645. In answer to a petition of several inhabitants 
of the town of Braintree, for the approbation of this Court, to 
go and plant a town in the place where Mr. Gorton did live, it 
was granted, so as they take not np above 1000 acres and that 



much examination & serious consideration of yo'r writings w'tli yo'r answer 
about them, wee do charge you to bee a blasphemes eneymy of the true reli- 
gion of o'r Lord Jesus Christ & his holy ordinances, and also of all Civill au- 
thority among the people of God, & particularly in this irusdiction."— Mass. 
llec, IT., p. 51. 

1G45. " This year twenty Families, (most of them of the church of Braintree), 
petitioned the Court for liberty to begin a plantation where Gorton and his 
company had erected two or more houses at Shawamet, some part of Punhom's 
land, but it was challenged by Mr. Brown of Plymouth as belonging to their 
jurisdiction. This he did without any order from their Court or Council, (as 
they declared afterwards, but out of some privite end of his own). It might 
have been of some advantage to the interest of the English on the frontiers of 
the Narrhagansit Country, but ofttimes regard to particular profit proves preju- 
dicial to general good. For if there had been a plantationerected there by those 
of Braintree it might have been as a bulwark against the corruption in faith and 
manners prevailing in that part of Kew England about Providence, but it is to 
be feared that those parts of the country, like the miry places and marshes 
spoken of in Ezek. 47 : 11, are not as yet to be healed, Irat to bo given to 
salt."— jNIass. Hist. Col., Second Series, Vol. (i, p. 414. 

These are the names of the above petitioners of the Church of Braintree:— 
" Stephen Kingsly, John Garing, Francis Eliot, Tliom: Flatnian, Hen>:y Ad- 
ams, Thomas Adams, John Sheopard, Henry Adam, Junior, Samu: Adams, 
John Adams, Christopher Adams, William Vaysey, Pdchard Brackett, Chris- 
topher Webb, Edward Sparlden, Thomas Meakins, Nicho: Woode, Enl)ert 
Qnelues, Thom: Barret, Daniell Shode, William Ellice, Deodatus Curtis, 
Tliomas Waterman, Nathaniell Herman, Humfry Grigs, John Hastings, 
George Aldridge, John Wheateley, Thomas Wihnet, Henry Madsley, John 
French, Arthur Waring. They being about twenty of the thirty-two suh- 
.scribers free men." — Mass. Bee. 11., p. 128. 

1048. " Upon the request of the Earle of Warwick, the Court allowes Sam- 
uel Gorton now ou shippboard, one full Weeke after the date hereof for the 
transportation of himself and his goods, through o'r irusdiction, to the place 
of his dwelling, he demeaning himselfe inoffencively, according to the Contents 
of the said Earles letter; & that the JNIarshall, or some other, be appointed to 
shew him a Coppy of this order, or to fix it to the Main ISIast of the ship, in 
w'ch he is."— Mass. llec, II., p. '-'42. 

For a more extended account of Samuel Gorton and his various exploits, see 
AVinthrop's History of New England, Palfrey's History of New England, and 
Sparks' American Biography, New Series, Vol. Y., p. 317, where a full account 
of his life is given. Also, the His. Genealogical Reg. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 17 

seven be freemen, to disjjose of town affairs ; and that they build 
ten houses there witliin this twelve month." 

Tliis attempt to settle with Gorton did not succeed for the 
reason, that Mr. Browne, one of the Commissioners from the 
United Colonies, without authority being given him by the 
Court, forbid them going to Gorton's settlement, as Mr. Browne 
claimed that this territory was within the limits of the Plymouth 
Colony, and that the Massachusetts Colony had no jurisdiction 
in the matter. [See note on Gorton.] 

It has been claimed that the settlement of Braintree began 
with the arrival of Capt. Wollaston at the Mount, in 1625. We 
have carefully searched all written and traditional accounts 
given in reference to this matter, and have been unable to find 
any record or even traditional authority to substantiate this 
point. In fact the written evidence goes to prove that the 
attempted settlement at the Mount was some three years earlier 
than the time Wollaston is said to have come here, as Morton 
in his New England Canaan relates, that he arrived here with 
thirty servants in June, 1622, and then began to erect his houses. 
Winthrop's History agrees with this statement of Morton, as he 
asks of Dr. Young to correct in the next edition of his Chroni- 
cles of the First Planters of Massachusetts Bay, the mistake he 
had made in regard to Morton's arrival. 

Every one admits that Captain Wollaston remained here but 
a short time, and from some cause or other, left the Mount and 
removed to Virginia, before the first year of his arrival had 
expired ; therefore he could not have carried on the settlement. 

Soon after Wollaston left, Morton took jwssession of the 
Mount and commenced his free and easy reign, which continued 
until his demoralizing effect upon his followers, and the Indians, 
so exasperated the Plymouth Colony, that they ordered in 1628, 
Captain Standish to march upon Morton's jovial village and 
capture him. This expedition was successful ; Morton was 
arrested, and, after a trial, sent back to England. 

After the Chief was captured and sent abroad, his followers 
scattered and joined the other plantations, which evidently disin- 
tegrated and brought to an end this Bacchanalian community, to 
the great relief of the other })lantations, and also happily for the 

3 



18 EAELY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. 

Mount, in preventing the rapidly increasing population, from 
being mostly of Indian origin. Another reason that leads us to 
believe that this settlement was not permanent is, that if there 
were any settlers located here, the General Court would have 
had no right or jurisdiction over the land, therefore they could 
not have granted it to Boston as they did in 1634-5. 

The settlers were very tenacious of their rights to the land 
they had taken up, and the Court sustained all their just claims, 
as was the case between Boston and Dorchester, in reference to 
the boundary line between the Mount and Dorchester, 

At the time the Mount was annexed to Boston, the question 
arose, where the northerly boundary line of the Mount should 
be located. Boston claimed, that it was the Neponset river ; 
Dorchester disse'nted. 

The disj^ute grew out of several of the inhabitants of Dor- 
chester claiming land or farms on the south side of the river. 
The subject came before the General Court for a decision, the 
Court not being able to agree u])on the matter, referred the 
whole subject to a committee for a final settlement. This com- 
mittee reported in favor of the claimants, and the Squahtum lands 
went to Dorchester, and her southerly boundary was established 
to run a little south of the old Squantum road, and extended to 
the Milton line. 

To our mind, the most conclusive evidence that this settle- 
ment was not permanent, is, that in September, 1634, when the 
General Court assessed six hundred pounds upon the several 
plantations in the vicinity of Boston, to pay the public charges, 
no mention is made of a settlement at Mount Wollaston, in 
enumerating the amount of tax that each was to pay, viz.: 

"Dorchester, £80 ; Rocksbury, £70 ; New Towne, £80 ; Wa- 
terton, £60 ; Saugus, £50 ; Boston, £80 ; Ipswitch, £50 ; Sa- 
lem, £45 ; Charlton, £45 ; Meadford, £26 ; Wessaguscus (now 
Weymouth), £10; Barecove (now Hingham), £4."^ 

From 1634-5, when Mount "Wollaston was given to Boston, 
and she in turn granted land to various persons to come here 
and settle upon, we can fairly and definitely date the beginning 
of the first permanent settlement of the town of old Braintree. 

1. Masa Kec. Vol. I., p. J29. 



LAND GEANTS. 



It is jn-oposed to give a full compilation, and general view of 
the manner hi which the territory included in Mount Wollaston 
and the old township of Braintree was taken up ; also of the 
ve>xatious troul^les the common lands gave the inhabitants. By 
order of the General Court, Mount Wollaston was in 1634-5 
given to Boston, which in turn granted tracts of land to indi- 
viduals to come out and settle on. Many persons after having 
acquired their grants, did not come here to reside, but held them 
for speculation, to the great annoyance of the actual settlers. 
We endeavored to locate these allotments, but the indiscrimi- 
nate, and irregular manner in Avhich the grants were made, and 
the great uncertainty of the bounds, caused us to give it up. — 
After having examined some two hundred deeds and wills, we 
found matters so mixed, that it was useless to proceed further, 
and preferred that at some future time an expert conveyancer 
might illustrate his peculiar innate intuition, by establishing 
bounds, locating blazed trees, finding heaps of stone that have 
passed out of existence centuries ago, and accounting for rivers 
that are now inferior brooks, or no brooks at all. 

The first difficulty that occurred from the 2>ublic grants of 
land, grew out of establishing tlie boundary line betAveen Boston 
and Dorchester. In 1634-5, the General Court gave to Boston 
the whole of the Mount ; previous to this conveyance, several 
of the inhabitants of Dorchester had taken up farms on the 
south side of Neponset river, which caused a dispute, whether 
these farms belonged to Boston or Dorchester. After consider- 
able contention the General Court ai)pointed a Committee to 
settle these differences, consisting of Lieut. Feakes, Mr. Tal- 
cott, and Mr. Woolridge. Ensign Gibbons and William Felps 
were also directed to accompany them ; all other persons were 
l)rohibited from going with them, or being present at their delib- 



20 LATSTD GRANTS. 

erations. In September, Mr. Feakcs l^nd Mr. Talcott made their 
report, which was accepted, establishing the soutli line of the 
town of Dorchester on the sea, at a point in Quincy Bay south 
of Squantum, and running westerly to Mr. Stoughton's farm, 
("Mr. Stoughton's farm consisted of IGO acres, including nearly 
the whole of Milton Hill, and the front on tlie river to the bend, 
Avliere the shi|)yard of Mr. Briggs was located,"^) giving a large 
l»ortion of the upland and all the salt marshes on the south 
■bank of Neponset river to the town of Dorchester, nn extent of 
ten miles of shore, and establishing the right of Roger Ludlow, 
Mr. Rosseter, and Mr. Newbury and others to hold their farms 
on the south side of Neponset. 

Mr. Roger LudloAv, who was chosen Deputy Governor in 1684, 
had by this decision confirmed to him one hundred acres of land 
lying between " Musquantuni Chaj^ell,"^ and the mouth of Ne- 
ponset river. A part of this Squantum farm was known for 
many years as Ludlow's Point. Mr. Edward Rosseter was a 
person of some note, having been chosen as early as 1629, one 
of the assistants. The extent of his farm I have not been able 
to iind, but repeated mention is made of it in the old records. 
Mr. Newbury's grant was much larger than the others, as his 
farm contained some four hundred acres large measure, bounded 
on the south by what afterwards was Mr. Wilson's farm ; on the 
east by the sea at Ioav water mark, and on the west (including 
the old Squantum road) it stretched to the boundaries of Dor- 

1. " It is a conjecture of long standing, that, that well known point in Dor- 
chester (called Sciuiiutuni,) received its name from Squanto, an Indian Chief. 
The rustic legend, that it was so named because an Indian Squaw threw herself 
from the roidvs there, in 'early times,' is not deemed worthj' consideration. — 
For the want of a better derivation, probably, some one converted ' Squaw 
Tumble' into Squantum. If named for the Indian before mentioned, the time 
when, and the circumstances which occasioned it, are alike unknown. It is 
very possible that the name Squantum, however, had nothing to do with this 
Indian at all."— Drake's Antiq. of Boston, p. 43. 

2. " Abrupt pile of rocks, known by the name of ' the Chapel,' at the north- 
east extremity of the peninsular of Squantum. 

"Here, for many years, was celebrated ' Pilgrim's Feast,' to which people 
from all parts of the State resorted, and spent the day in social glee, in memory 
of the I'ilgrim Fathers, and their landing at Plymouth. It has been discon- 
tinued many years."— Whitney's History of Quincy. 



TuXST) GRANTS. 21 

Chester, now, since 1662, Milton. He also had another farm 
further up the Neponset river. This large farm was sold to the 
Hon. John Glover in 1640. As to Mr. Pynchon's and Mr. Wol- 
cott's, we cannot even ascertain their location, nor have we been 
able to establish the time these farms were taken up, but it must 
have been at a very early period. 

The first grant was that which provided for the Minister of 
the first Church of Boston, the Rev. John Wilson, in the place 
of the former grant at Mystic or Medford. • This vote was 
adopted during his absence to bring over his wife from England. 

13th April, 1635. "It is agreed by general consent that our 
Pastor, Mr. John Wilson, shall have liberty to improve what 
ground may be for him at Mount Wollaston, Avith free reserv- 
ing unto him his grant at Mystic until his coming home for 
further agreement with the inhabitants," 

Mr. Wilson arrived in Boston in October. By the next vote 
it api)ears that this promised gift was burdened with an encum- 
brance of the Indian riglit of possession. 

4th December, 1635. "Item, — Whereas the greatest part of 
the ground at Mount Wollaston intended to have been given 
from the inhabitants to our Pastor, Mr. John Willson in lieu or 
exchange for his farm at Mystic, has proved to belong unto the 
Indians and others, Avhose interest therein he hath been forced 
to purchase — the inhabitants do therefore relinquish all claim 
unto his said land at Mystic, and do further confirm unto him 
his interest in his said land at Mount Wollaston, with further 
allowance to have by way of purchase from the Indians and 
others, or otherwise, so much of the upland ground within or 
about his said grounds there as may make him up a convenient 
farm there." "The town seems to have had some trouble in 
buying up the rights of settlers as well as of the Indians, to 
make good this grant." 

It is evident that it was the intention of Boston to grant the 
Squantum lands to the Rev. Mr. Wilson, as will be seen by the 
following vote : 16th September, lGo6. "Item, — At this Assembly 
it was agreed upon by common vote and by lifting up of hands, 
that the five hundred and sixty -five acres, as they are described 
in a map, and which were formerly purchased of Mount Wol- 



22 LAND GRANTS. 

laston, with the consent of this town, partly of Mr. Pynchon, 
partly of Mr. Wolcott, partly of Mr. Smith, (or at least his title 
utterly silenced), and partly of the Indians, should be and is the 
allotment of the said John Wilson there, together vnth .the lands 
then in controversey betwixt Dorchester and Boston, if the Court 
adjudge them to BostonP As the Court adjudged these lands 
to Dorchester, Mr. Wilson had to receive the more southerly 
grants. 

There can be -no doubt that this allotment was made in the 
northern part "of what is now called Quincy, as Dr. John Wilson, 
one of the first physicians settled in this town, and grandson of 
the minister, inherited a large part of these lands. His resi- 
dence was on the land of Edmund B. Taylor, and now in the 
possession of his son, and whose house, within a few years, 
has been taken down. The Wilson grant contained the Taylor 
and Rawson farm, and also a large part of what is noAv called 
Wollaston Heights. 

The next grants in regular order were those to Quincy and 
Coddington. 14th December, 1635. "It is agreed by general 
consent that Mr. W. Colburn, Mr. W. Aspinwall, Mr. J. Samp- 
ford, W. Balston and Richard Wright, shall in behalf of the 
town go and take view at Mount Wollaston and bound out 
there what may be sufficient for Mr. William Coddington and 
Edmund Quincy, to have for their -particidar farms there; 
and accordingly as they five or four of them shall agree upon to 
stand, and the same to be entered in this book." 

Immediately after this follows a general authority to make 
allotments in the following words : — " Item, — It is agreed that 
all the allotments at Mount Wollaston shall be set out by Mr. 
Coddington, William Colburn, W^illiam Aspinwall, Edmund 
Quincy and Richard Wright, or some four of them ; and tluit 
every allotment shall have convenient proi)ortions of meadow 
thereunto, according to their number of cattle that have the 
same." 

The following is the re])ort of the first Committee on the 
allotments to Coddington and Quincy : 

14th March, lGo6. "And whereas at a general meeting the 
14th of the 10th month last, it was ordered that Mr. W. Col- 



LAND GRANTS. 23 

burn, Mr. W. Aspinwall, J. Sampford, W. Balston and Richard 
Wright, should bound out Mr. W. Coddington's and Edmund 
Quincy's farms at Mount Wollaston, and the same accordingly 
to be entered in this book." 

" Now the said five persons have thus given in the bounds 
thereof, viz. : that Mr. Wilson's lot shall be the northerly bound, 
and the sea on the east part, with so much of the neck of land 
towards Nut Island unto the marked trees of the neck, and so 
to be compassed about on the south and west part as Ave have 
marked it out by trees, from place to place, unto the dead 
swamp next to Mr. Wilson's, excluding a parcel of marsh land, 
in which thei'e stands three hummocks with pine trees upon the 
east side of the marsh near the water." " It will be perceived 
that this boundary includes both farms, and comprehends the 
whole of the extensive tract on the seaboard from the dead 
swamp on the north to Hough's Neck on the south, including 
what is called Mount Wollaston, but excluding the great plain 
of salt marsh on the south of it, as well marked by tlje thfee 
hummocks at this day as it was two centuries ago, although the 
wood has changed from pine to oak and walnut." 

The arrival of Mr. William Hutchinson to the Colony, which 
occurred on the 13th of September, 1634, and one of the great 
Antinomian leaders, now introduced the seeds of the great schism 
at Mount Wollaston, which created an exciting religious con- 
troversy in the Colonies for some time, or until they were 
banished. 

4th January, 1636. "Item, — That Mr. William Hutchinson 
shall have a sufficient farm laid him out at Mount Wollaston, 
beyond Mr. Coddington's farm and Mr. Wilson's into the country 
adjoining Dorchester bounds, by the aforesaid live persons or 
four of them, at their discretion." 

It would appear from the following, that the collision be- 
tween Pastor Wilson and the Hutchinsons was not altogether 
confined to spiritual boundaries : 

9th May, 1636. " Item, — It is ordered that William Aspinwall, 
Wm. Brenton, Wm. Balston, John Sampford, and James l*enne, 
or some four of them, shall lay out our Pastor, Mr. John AVjlson's 
bounds and Mr. William Hutchinson's at Mount Wollaston." 



24 LAND GEANTS. 

9th January, 1637. "And Avhereas, at a general meeting, the 
4th of tlie eleventh month, 1635, it was ordered that Mr. W. 
Coddington, Mr. W. Colburn, W. Aspinwall, Edmund Quincy, 
and J. Sampfoixl, should lay out Mr, W. Hutchinson a sufficient 
farm at Mount "Wollaston at their discretion. Now the said 
five persons have at this day under their hands thus given in the 
laying out thereof, viz. : They have assigned unto him five liun- 
dred acres of ground lying betwixt Dorchester bounds and Mount 
Wollaston river from the back of Mr. Coddington's and Mr. 
Wilson's farm, up into the country, and if there be not sufficient 
meadow ground within this lot, to have such competent meadow 
assigned to him as there shall be found most fitting for him." 

When Mr. Hutchinson's land was laid out it was supposed to 
have been within the Braintree line, but when a survey was 
made in laying out the towns of Braintree and Dorchester, a 
large part of Hutchinson's lot was found to fall Avithin the line of 
the latter town ; in fact, including the whole east corner of the 
to^n of Milton, or what is now called East Milton, beside a 
large tract within the Braintree line. 

The next grant is to Atherton Hough : 

4th January, 1636. " It is agreed by general consent that Mr. 
Atherton Houghes shall have six hundred acres laid him out 
beyond Mount Wollaston, from between Monatyquot river to 
the bound that parts our bound from Weymouth, and if there 
be not sufficient meadow there for this said farm, then he is to 
be accommodated with meet meadow for it in the little meadow 
at the uj)per end of the fresh brook called the " stand," and to 
be laid out by the former five mentioned persons or four of 
them." 

" Thus far it has not been difficult to understand the course of 
the allotments. They appear to have extended coastwise from 
Ne])onsite to the Weymouth river, beginning at the north and 
going southward. But there was yet one great tract left, and 
this seems to have been granted later to Mr. Hough in exchange 
for some portion of his first grant. It is the same which has 
ever since been known by his name, as ' Hough's Neck.' " 

4th December, 1637. " Also it is agreed that Mr. Atlierton 
Haulgh shall have all that neck of land (as yet not laid out) join- 



LAND GRANTS. 26 

ing to Mr. William Cocldington, north-west of the Brethren's 
meadow lots there, and to have it made up, seven hundred acres 
upon the main land, fifty acres thereof to be in tlie little meadow 
where Mr. William Hutchinson had hay mown this last year, and 
if the meadow exceed not threescore acres, then is Mr. Ilaulgh 
to have the whole meadow, and it is left to his choice to begin 
from the west, either at the little meadow, and so to come 
downward to the Brethren's lots of seven acres upon a head — 
or to begin from their lot and so up to the meadow, all upon the 
north side of the Stony Brook — and for the rocky ground 
thereinto have alloAvance, as the Brethren have unto their rocky 
ground there — and to have commonage as the Brethren have 
there, and if the said meadow do exceed threescore ^acres, then 
is Mr. Haulgli to have his fifty acres therein where he pleaseth 
taking it altogether at which end thereof he will." This allusion 
to Hutchinson's meadow is explained by the following order : 

28th August, 1637. " Also it is agreed that Mr. William 
Hutchinson have leave for the present sumuier to mow the little 
meadow at the head of Monatiquot river, and to be considered 
of for further enjoyment of it." 

The final settlement with Mr. Hough was made as follows : — 
28th October, 1639. " It was fully agreed on and concluded 
between said overseers on the town's behalf on the one part, and 
the said Mr. Atherton Haulgh on the other part, that Mr. 
Haulgh shall relinquish all claim unto all the land commonly 
called the Captain's plain, lying over against the southern end of 
the second Company of lots at Mount Wollaston, and lying on 
the west side of the fresh brook, bounded towards the north 
and east by the said fresh brook running out of a swamp in the 
midst of the plain near adjoining unto the said fresh brook 
towards the west of the marked trees. In consideration of 
Avhich the men chosen in the town's behalf aforesaid, do grant 
and agree that the said Mr.* Haulgh shall have with all conve- 
nient speed measured out unto him as much land in quantity as 
the plain bounded as aforesaid containcth in it, and eighty acres 
overplus to adjoin unto the southmost side of land already laid 
out to him, to lie all along a line already set out, extending 
about five hundred rods in length, and to be of equal breadth 

5 



26 LAND GRANTS. 

from the said line in all places, as much as the quantity granted 
to him (whatever it be) shall require." 

The next large and important grant of land was made to the 
celebrated John "Wheelwright, a minister, who was expelled 
from the Colony for his religious views. 

20th February, 1637. " It is agreed that our brother Jolin 
Wheelwright shall have an allotment of two hundred and fifty 
acres set off for him at Mount Wollaston where may be most 
convenient, without prejudice to the setting up a town there, to 
be laid out by Mr. Coddington for our brother Wheelwright." 

It appears that they located his grant near the marsh called 
the three hill marsh, immediately south of Mount Wollaston. 

3d April, 1637. " Whereas at a former meeting it was agreed 
that Mr. W. Coddington and our brother Richard Wright should 
lay out our brother, Mr. J. Wheelwright, his allotment of two 
hundred and fifty acres at Mount Wollaston." 

"Now they have brought in the laying out thereof, thus, viz.: 
Forty acres thereof in the sunk marsh, lying south and by east 
of the lands of the said William Coddington ; five acres for his 
house lot, and two hundred and five at the end of it running 
with one side of the first lot and the line of twenty acres of the 
planting ground allotted, to be extended into the country ground 
till his full proportion of two hundred and five acres between 
those lines be runned out." 

" The disposition of this land seems to have been in conflict 
with the rights of the other grantees, so that when Wheelwright's 
lands came to be sold after his banishment, it became necessary 
to settle the question how far they extended." 

27th January, 1641. " It is ordered that whereas there was 
formerly granted to Mr. John Wheelwright a great lot of 250 
acres, 205 acres whereof have been laid out where parts of the 
first allotments should have lain, and the purchaser of Mr. Wheel- 
wright's grant hath consented to thfe parting with the said two 
hundred and five acres for the having in lieu thereof, all the 
Captain's plain, and eighty acres more. 

" Also for ending the differences between the purchasers of 
Mr. Wheelwright's lands and the owners of the second division 
or lot at Mount Wollaston, for as much as the said purchasers 



• LAND GRANTS. 27 

cannot liave their lands supplied in course, as those of the first 
lot had, without prejuflice to many men, who had improved 
their lots ; it is therefore ordered, by consent of divers of the 
parties, that the purchasers of Mr. Wheelwright's lands shall 
have (in lieu of the two hundred and five acres Avhich was taken 
away towards the making up of what was wanting to the first 
division or lot there) the one hundred and thirteen acres at the 
end of his land, and the Captain's plain, being about one hun- 
dred and fourteen acres, and that the widow Shelley's son and 
those who challenge interest in the said plain shall have their 
parts first supplied and laid out where no grant is already made 
in particular, and together therewith the thirty acres remaining 
of Mr. Wheelwright's proportion beside, and the purchasers are 
to have in lieu of the residue, moi*e than thirty acres, which 
they allowed to the said widow Shelly's son and the rest, such 
proportion of the rocky ground lying next the said plain, and 
the said forty-three acres, as the surveyor, upon view shall find 
answerable to the eighteen acres remaining to them." 

It would appear by the Boston town records that those per- 
sons who had land granted them here were held o^ certain re- 
strictions, as in 1638, Richard Wright, a prominent actor in 
these land grants, for disposing of his lands at Mount Wollas- 
ton without permission being given him by the town of Boston, 
was fined for this neglect. 

" At this day it hath appeared that the said Richard Wright 
hath sold one hundred and thirty acres of land at Mount Wol- 
laston to one Mr. Pane of Concord, without the consent of the 
town alloters, contrary to the former order, and he is therefore 
to pay for a fine to the town stock, to be paid at the next town 
meeting, the fine of six pounds." 

These second smalle;^ allotments are very diflicult to locate, 
as there was a constant stream of them made to individuals 
without regularity or discrimination, as will be seen by the fol- 
lowing grants made in Braintree by Boston, to various persons, 
as taken from the Boston records of land grants. It will be 
seen by the allotments that each member of 'a family received 
four acres. For the .convenience of those who are in jiursuit 
of genealogical information, we have designated with a star the 



28 



LAND GRANTS. 



names of those who came here to reside, and are to be found 
on the Bvaintree town and parish records : 



1640. Feb. 24th 



1638. 

1640. 

(( 

1639. 
1638. 
1640. 



Feb. 19th. 
liouse plot 

Feb. 24th. 

a u 

Feb. 19th, 

Mar. 30th. 

Feb. 24th, 



1638. Feb. 19th 



1639. 
1688. 
1640. 

1638. 
1639. 
1640. 
1639. 
1640. 



1638. 
1639. 
1640. 
1638. 
1640. 

1638. 



1639. 
1640. 



1637. 
1640. 
1637-, 



Nov. 
Feb. 
Feb. 

Feb.' 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Sept. 

Feb. 



Feb. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Feb. 
Jan. 



25th. 
19th. 

24th. 

(( 

' 19th. 
25th. 
27th. 
30th. 
24th. 



19th. 
30th. 
27th. 
29th. 
24tli. 
30th. 
19th. 
29th. 



Sept. 30th. 
Castle 

Feb. 21st. 

(( (( 

Jan. llth. 

Jan. 9th. 

Feb. 24th. 

Oct. 30th, 



*Adams, Henry, 3s. an acre, 

*Allye, Benjamin 

*Aldrich, George 

* Allen, Samuel 

*Arnold, John 

*Award (Ilayward) Richard, a 
on condition of inoffensive carriage 

Burrill, George 

Belfield, Samuel 

*Belcher, Gregory, 3s. an acre. 

Bell, Thomas 

Bird, Thomas 

Blysse, Thomas 

*Brackett, Peter 

Brisco, William 
, Brown, William 

Burdon, George 

Bushnell, Mq,rtha 
Carter, Richard 
*Clark, James 
*Clark, John 
*Clark, Thomas 

Cole, Clement 
Collyns, Christo})]ior, 
CoUyns, Jolin of Monaticot, 
Corey, James 
Crabtree, John 

(( a 

Critchley, Richard 
Cullymore, Isaac 
*Dnssett, John 
*Davis, William 
Dennys, Edward 
fiast, Francis 
*Elliot, Francis 

Foster Thomas, Governor of the 
Island, 

*French, Jolm, of Monaticot, 
Gilbert, Thomas, 
Grame, Samuel 
Gunnismi, Hugh 
Ilarlar, John 
Ilassett, John 



Heads. 


Acres. 


10 


40 


3 


12 


5 


20 


7 


28 


2 


8 


a 


A 


9 


36 


5 


20 


13 


52 


3 


12 


3 


12 ■ 


9 


36 


12 


48 


8 


32 


3 


12 


5 


20 


3 


12 


5 


20 


3 


12 


2 


8 


10 


40 


6 


24 


8 


32 


7 


28 


2 


8 


3 


12 


4 


16 


2 


8 


3 


12 


5 


20 


4 


16 


7 


28 


5 


20 


3 


12 


2 


8 


4 


16 


6 


24 


5 


20 


7 


28 


4 


16 


3 


12 


3 


12 


3 


12 



LAND GRANTS. 



29 



Heads. Acres. 



1640. 

(( 

1638. 
1640. 



Mar. 
Feb. 



1638. 
1639. 

1638. 

(( 

1640. 
1639. 
1640. 



Mar. 
Jan. 

u 

Jan. 
July 
Fob. 

a 

Feb. 
July 
Feb. 



SOth. 

19th. 

31st. 
27th. 



IlnthaAvay, Nicholas 
Haven Robert 
Hawkins, James 
Hawkins, Thomas 



1638. Feb. 18th 



- 1638. 
1639. 

1640. 

(( 

1638. 
1640. 



Feb. 
Nov, 
Jan. 

Feb. 
Feb. 



1638, 
'1640. 



1639. 
1640. 



Feb. 
Feb. 
Jan. 
Feb. 



1639. 

1640. 
(( 

1640. 
1638, 
1639. 
1640. 



Mar 

Dec. 
Feb. 
Aug, 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Dec. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Feb. 



30th 
river, 
30th. 
24th. 
26th, 
24th. 
19th. 
30th. 
24th. 
30th. 
24th. 



1638. April 19th. 



Perry, Arthur 
Place, Thomas 
*Plumley, Alexander 
*Puffer, George 
*Porter, Alx'l 
*Potter, William 
Reade, Jolm 
Rickett, Richard 
Rodgers, David 
*Roso, George 
*Scott, Robert 



9 
4 
4 
4 

5 
8 
5 
5 
3 
6 
3 
3 
3 
2 

3 



Hewstead, Robert 
" Hogg, Richard, houseplot, garden, 
29th. Hunne, George, 
8th. Hurd, John 

19th. Hutchinson, Edward the younger, 
" Jackson, John 
24th. *Jewell, Thomas 
2nd. Jepson, John, 3 shillings an acre, 
24th. Kidby, Lewis 

Kirkly, William 

*Keayne, Benjamin, a great lot of 

meadoAv and upland at Monaticot 

19th. *Kinsley, Stephen 9 

25th. Lisle, Francis 5 

24th. Lovel, Daniel 3 

27th. Lugg, John 9 

19th. Lowe, John 4 

24th. -*Maudsley, Henry 3 

" " " *Merchant, John •) 

1640 Feb. 24th. *Mekyne, Thomas Jr., 7 

*Miles, John H 

[I " " Millard, Thomas 5 

" Moore, John 3 

19th. Mower, William 9 

24th. *Neale, Henry 3 

27tli. *Needham, William 3 

24th. NcAvton, Anthony 3 

Sept. 30th. Offley, D. 1.5 

P'eb. 24th. Onyon, John * o 

*Pafflyn, John o 

Parker, Richard, on Monaticot 



36 
16 
16 
16 
20 
32 
20 
20 
12 
24 
12 
12 
12 
8 
12 

200 
36 
20 
12 
36 
16 
12 

8 

28 
44 
20 
12 
36 
12 
12 
12 
60 

8 

8 



7 
5 
3 
5 
2 

11 
11 

10 

2 

5 
12 



500 
28 
20 
12 
20 
8 
44 
44 
40 
8 
20 
48 



30 LAND GRANTS. 



1638. April 16th. Sellen, Thomas, house plot 
1640. Feb. 24th. Sharpe, Robert 
" " " *Sheppard, George 

• " Jan. 27th. Shrimpton, Henry 
" Feb. 24th. Snnons, Thomas 
" " " Sinnott, Waters 

" " " Smyth, Matthew 

" Jan. 27th, *Spoor, John 
" Feb. 24tli. Stephens, Robert 

1638. Feb. 19th. Staunyan, Anthony 
1640. Jan. 27th. Stoddard, Anthony 

1639. Nov. 25th. Storer, Richard 
a639. Dec. 10th. *Tinge, Edward, on the upper 

side of the pond, 

1640. Feb. 24th. *Tayer (Thayer) Thomas 
" Jan. 27th. Thompson, William, free from 

the rate of 3 shillings, 

1638. Feb. 19th. Wardall, William 
" Jan. 29th. Wayte, Gammell 
" " " Wayte, Richard 
" » " *Webb, Henry 

1640. Feb. 24th. Wells, Daniel 

1639. Aug. 26th. Williams, Nathaniel 

1640. Feb. 24th. Wilson, Jacob 
" " " Wiseman, James 

1639. Dec. 30th. Wooddas, Richard 

1640. Jan. 27th. *Wright, George 3 12 
1639. Feb. 18th. *Wright, Richard, a narrow piece 

of land lying at Mount Wollaston, between 
the mill andtlie fresh brook, to begin at tlic 
end of the lirst lot, and to extend four score 
rods in length to the furtherance of his 
water mill building there, and in regiird of 
his ready serviceableness to the town's oc- 
casions. 

After the incorporation of the toAvn,. the following larger 
grants were made to the several persons here enumerated, viz.: 

Heads. Acres. 

1641. July 31st. Bendall, Edward 400 
1641. Jan. 31st. Briscoe, William 1 4 
1644. July 29th. *Elliot, Francis and others, land 

within the common fence of Braintree, near 
tlie Kniglit's Neck, (seeMatson, *Penniman, ^ 
and Payne.) 
1644. July 2<)th. *FIint, Henry (see *Thom})Son, 
William.) 



!acls. 


Acres, 


4 


16 




18 


3 


12 


10 


40 


3 


12 


5 


20 


5 


20 


3 


12 


11 


44 




100 


3 


12 




250 




76 




120 


3 


12 


10 


40 


4 


16 


10 


40 


20 


80 


4 


16 


4 


16 


3 


12 


3 


12 



LAND GRANTS. 31 

Heads. Acres. 

1G44. July 29th. Matson, Sargent (see Elliot, 
Francis.) 

1G41. Nov. 29th. Palmer, John • 2 8 

1G44. July 29th. *Payne, Moses (see Elliot, Fran- 
cis.) 

^ " July 29th. *Penniman, Joseph, (see Elliot 
Francis,) and *R()bert Scott, adjoined to 
Webb's, with allowance for rock land, or 

swamp, 200 . 

1G41. July 2Gth. Sterns, Henry 5 20 

1G44. July 29th. Thompson, William and Flynt, 

Henry, marsh in the three hills marsh not ' 
formerly granted to J. Wheelwright, to- 
gether Avith two hillocks of upland. 

1644. Sept. 28th, Webb, Henry, beyond jNIonaticot 
river, adjoining to Edward Tyng's and 
Edward Hutchingson's farms. 200 

1G41. July 31st. Wheelwright, John, in the three 

liills marsh. 40 

»1G44. Jan. 19th. Winthrop, John Jr., and others, 

for the encouragement of an iron work, 3000 

In 1641, the town passed the following vote as a precautionary 
measure to prevent, as far as they were able, the trouble and 
annoyance these allotments to so many people in Boston were 
liable to produce by the grantees claiming exemption fi'om tax- 
ation, or paying their share of the town's charges ; therefore 
they preferred to purchase all land for sale, by any one in the 
place, so that it might be owned by the permanent residents 
of the town : 

" It is ordered that no inhabitants of the town shall sell or 
dispose of any house or land to any that is not received as an 
inhabitant into the town, without it be first offered unto the men 
appointed to dispose of the town affairs, and in case it be not 
bought u]) by them Avithin twenty days after the first olfer, that 
they shall have liberty to dispose of it, only to such as the 
townsmen shall ai)prove on, and therefor it is agreed that every 
acre of land, or house so disposed on, Avithout the townsmen 
consent, shall pay the whole sum of nineteen shillings and seven 
pence ; moreover, it is furder ordered that no man that is not 
received an inhabitant into the town shall have liberty to build 
any house or cottage within the limits of the town, without the 



82 LAND GRANTS. 

consent of those that are chosen to dispose of town affairs. — 
The method of cultivating the common lands was also a. bone 
of contention.^ 

Notwithstanding all these precautions, the town in 1647, was 
obliged to enter into a new negotiation with the people of 
Boston, which terminated in the following agreement for the 
conveyance of land in the town : 

" This writing witnesseth : That it is agreed betwixt the se- 
lectmen for the town of Boston, on their part, and Martin Saun- 
ders, Samuel Bass and Mathew Barns for and in the behalf of 
the town of Braintree on the other part ; that, whereas Boston 
hath certain lands, lying between the lands of Dorchester and 
the bounds of Weymouth, as by the grant of the Court will 
appear. It is now agreed by and betwixt the parties aforesaid, 

1. "For some time there had been a contention among the inhabitants of the 
town in reference to tlie manner of planting, sowing, and pasturage of the com- 
mon land, not being able to settle this vexatious question with any degree of 
satisfaction among themselves, they, in May 6, 101(5, Petitioned the General 
Court to regulate the method of cultivating the common lands by enacting a 
law for the purpose. The General Court in answer to their petition referred 
them to the following law passed in 1643: 

"Oct. 17, 1643, Whereas it is found by experience that there hath been 
much trouble and difference in several towns about the manner of planting, 
sowing, and feeding of common fields, and that upon serious consideration we 
find no general order can provide for the best improvement of every such com- 
mon field, by reason that some consists only of plowing ground, some.liaving 
a great part fit only for planting, some of meadow and feeding ground ; also, 
so that such an order as maj' be very wholesome and good for one field may be 
exceedingly iirejudicial and inconvenient for another. It is therefore ordered, 
that where the commoners cannot agree upon the manner of improvement of 
their fields, either concerning the kind of grain that shall be sown or set 
tlierein, or concerning the time or manner of feeding the herbage thereof, tliat 
then such persons in the several towns that are deputed to order the prudential 
affairs thereof, shall order the same, or in case where no such are, then the 
major part of the freemen, who are hereby enjoyned with what convenient 
speed they may to determine any such difference as may arise upon any infor- 
mation given them by said commoners; and so much of any former order as 
concern the improvement of common fields, and that is hereby provided for, is 
liereby repealed."— Rec. of Mass., p. 4it. 

"May 0, lfi4(i. The inhabitants of Braintree, for an answer to their petition 
are referred to an order of Court made the 7 month, 1043, about common fields." 
— Kec. of Mass., p. 149. 



LAND GRANTS. 33 

(as followeth,) The Selectmen of Boston for and in belialf of 
tlie town, do grant that, all such lands of tlieirs within the pre- 
cinct aforesaid, being heretofore commonly called and known by 
the name of Mount WoUaston, shall be accounted within the 
townshij) of Brantry, and liable to bear all common charges in the 
town, when they are layed out and improved ; the town of Bos- 
ton still retaining the right and power of allotting and disposing 
of all those lands to particular persons, that are yet unlotted 
out ; the town of Brantry paying the sum of fifty pounds in 
manner as followeth, unto the use of the town of Boston, viz. : 
Ten pounds the 10th of January next ensuing the date hereof, 
and ten pounds each first month ensuing (the next first month 
excepted) for four years successively until the whole be paid ; 
all the said payments to be made in merchantable corn, as wlieat, 
rye, peas, and Indian, at fifty shillings in each of them, Avhich 
said sum of fifty pounds being paid, the inhabitants of the town 
of Brantry are not only to enjoy for a common the 1500 acres 
formerly laid out for a common, but also the above liberty and 
power with all their inhabitants, as other towns, to bring in all 
improved lauds to bear common charges with them, jjrovided 
that Mr. John Wilson, Pastor of the church of Boston, shall not 
be rated unto Brantry, for his farm at Brantry, only that his 
tax shall be still liable as heretofore. Finally it is agreed by the 
said three men of Brantry, to make the aforesaid payments at 
the meeting house of Boston to the Selectmen thereof, which 
shall be successively chosen the several years. 

"In witness whereof the Selectmen of the town of Boston 
for the time being on the one part, and Martin Saunders, Sam- 
uel Bass and Mathew Barns on the other part in the behalf of 
the town of Brantry, interchangably have set to their hands, 
this 20th October, 1G47. 

William Colbokn, James Everett, 

Jacob Elliott, Thomas Marshall, 

Anthony Stoddard, James Penn." 

This covenant or agreement, did not end their troubles, as 
new pretentions were made by inhabitants of Boston, claiming 
to be grantees of the unsurveyed land ; by these claimants tlie 

6 



34 



LAND GRANTS. 



people of Braintree were threatened with vexatious litigation. 
At last the inhabitants of the town became so exasperated that a 
town meeting was held the tenth of January, 1697-98, and 
the following agreement was made by the freeholders and the 
inhabitants of the town in defence of their rights, which was 
signed by seventy of the citizens of Braintree. 

" Then agreed to by the freeholders of Braintree the sub- 
scribers hereunto, that whereas there are some persons of Bos- 
ton, that make some claims or pretentions to some land in our 
township of Braintree aforesaid, and now in our jjossession by 
runninof of bounds : We the subscribers, inhabitants of the said 
township, do therefore mutually agree to defend our ancient 
rights, and will oppose in a course of law, those and all those 
that shall by any means disturb, molest or endeavor to dispose 
any of said inhabitants, of said land as aforesaid, and do prom- 
ise and engage, each to the other, that we will defray all such 
charges as shall arise, by any such suit or suits concerning the 
same ; as witness our hand the day and year above written. 



Lieut. John Baxter, 
Caleb Hubbard, 
Martin Saunders, 
Joseph Arnold, 
Joseph Penniman, Sen., 
Ensign William Veasey, 
^' Ensign Samuel Penniman, 
Benjamin Savil, 
William Nightingal, 
Peter Newcomb, 
Samuel Spear 
John Thayer, 
^ Joseph Penniman, Jr., 
Nehemiah Hayden, 
Joseph Adams 
Jonathan Hayward, 
Nathaniel Spear, 
Henry Crane, 
Samuel Belcher 
Clemant Cock, 
Thomas Holbrook, 
Thomas Copeland, 
Nathaniel Owens, 
Theopliilus Curtis 
Thomas Frencli 



John French, 
Samuel Paine, 
Dependance French, 
Solomon Veasey, 
Joseph Allen, 
Lieut. Samuel Neil, 
John Marshall, 
Peter Adams, 
Samuel White, Jr., 
Josiah Hubbard, 
Peter Webb, 
Nathaniel Thayer, 
Samuel Thayer, 
Thomas White, Sen., 
Jonathan Paddleford, 
Samuel Savil, 
John Baxter, Jr., 
Benjamin Webb, 
Benjamin Thompson, 

^f Joseph Parmenter, 
John HoUis, 
William Linfield, 
Ebenezer Spear, 
John Pain, 

^Samuel Penniman, 



V 



LAND GEANTS, 35 

Edward Derby, Benjamin Hobart, 

Ebenezcr Thayer, John Cleverly, 

Samuel Bass (cooper), Cornelius Thayer, 

Samuel Baxter, Joseph Neal, 

Thomas White, Josiah Owens, 

Benjamin Neil, John Bass, Sen., 

John Copeland, John Bass, Jr., 

William Copeland, Jr., Simon Bryant, 

Samuel Bass (carpenter,) Captain Samuel White, ^ 

John Newcomb, Sen., Peter Allen. 

In 1700 the inhabitants of the town became so indignant 
that they concluded to make a clean sweep of the whole matter, 
and agreed to* purchase all of the waste land held by Boston 
claimants, and at a public meeting passed the following vote for 
the purpose : 

26th January, 1700. " Then voted, the inhabitants of Brain- 
tree aforesaid, would buy all the whole lands, the Blue Hill 
lands and all, at seven hundred pounds as it is proffered by 
Boston men ; and to prevent any further annoyance from non- 
residents and foreign claimants, they voted as follows : Then 
voted also, that no person now purchasing shall make any con- 
veyance of the said land now purchased to any person out of 
this town as a security thereby to let them have a foothold or 
interest in said purchase or any other way." 

On the 5th of February, 1699, the first release of these claims 
was made by the Boston claimants. The second was made by 
Boston, Feb. 1st, 1708,^ she having reserved a right over the acts 

1. The following votes are taken from the Boston Town Records in regard to 
the settlement of the Braintree lands, from the sale of which lands the town 
of Boston, it seems, establislied a fund for the Public Latin and other Schools, 
as follows : 

" 24th January, 170S. The committee on the Braintree lands make the fol- 
lowing report : — AYhereas the town of Boston at a general meeting (lawfully 
warned) convened the 8th of March, 1707-8, did nominate and appoint a com- 
mittee in behalf of the town, to treat with sundry persons about the waste lands 
in Braintree, according to the memorial given in at said meeting, pursuant to 
ye said vote, we the subscribers being the said committee do signify to the town 
that agreeable to the memorial we have treated with the committee of those 
that esteem themselves Proprietors of the waste lands in Braintree belonging 
to the town of Boston, about the five hundred pounds, the sum they sold the 
land for, and come to the unanimous agreement, that the income of the five 
hundred pounds be forever impropriated and improved for a school or school§ 



36 LAND GRANTS. 

of their grantees. The £700 raised for the j^urchase of these 
claims, were procured by an association of one hundred of the 
citizens of Braintree, and raised by voluntary subscription. 

The following is a vote of the association in regard to the 
division of these lands: — "Voted, That there should be three 
divisions made of said lands with all convenient speed, one of 
the six hundred acres, — one, of the land above Moors farm, — 
and one, of the Chochecha land, or now Randolph." 

The first of these three divisions, was the six hundred adjoin- 
ing the Milton line. The second division lay principally in 
what is now the westerly part of Braintree. The third division 
embraces a large tract within the present limits of Randolph, 
adjoining to Bridgewater. " There was also another division of 
what was called the Middle Cedar Swamp, adjoining to Wey- 
mouth, 

" Each of the hundred proprietors appear by the record to have 
drawn one lot in each division, until the whole amount was 
exhausted. The names of the drawers are given in the Com- 
pany's books, together with the number of the lots assigned to 
each. From the third division, in a very short time, sprang up 
the settlement of the present town of Randolph. 

Soon after they had been relieved of their land troubles with 

for writiug.and Arithmetic, and that some part of God's word be read by a schol- 
ar or scholars by turns at the discretion of the Master, and that further according 
to the said memorial we have had several meetings with the committee of the 
purchasers of the aforesaid waste lands, and at length did agi-ee with them to 
offer it as our advice to the town of Boston, that for the future peace of the 
town, and the consideration of the sum of five hundred pounds being impropri- 
ated and improved for j^e public good of the town forever, and in consideration 
of twenty pounds to be paid to the town for the use aforesaid, by the said pur- 
chasers, that the town do give a quit claim to said purchasers with the reserva- 
tion of the land at Blue Hill now in the town's possession, as by plan of the 
same on the town records, taken 1653-4, by Mr. Joshua Fisher, surveyor, and 
the Selectmen's addition expressed by said plan, to run a straight line from 
A, B, to the top of Blue Hills, and that the town impower a committee to give 
an equal claim accordingly; and that agreeable to the direction of the town and 
said memorial we applied ourselves to the Gentlemen the purchasers of those 
that claim, &c. About the two hundred pounds, the sum the said land sold for 
more than the first cost, Mr. Sargent, Mr. Hutchinson and JSIadam Shrimpton 
did declare that wherever they did not intend a personal advantage in the 
purchase so they freely gave their part of 'the two hundred pounds to ye town 



LAND GRANTS. 37 

Boston, the town found themselves in the same position in refer- 
ence to their own common lands. A large tract of land had 
come into their possession by the Boston agreement, comprising 
about fifteen hundred acres, called the " South and North Com- 
mons and the Ministerial lands." 

This, like Fourierism or communities holding land in common- 
age, was more troublesome and vexatious than any material ad- 
vantage that might be derived from it, as this proved to be. For 
years, at the annual town meeting, complaints of trespass and 
encroachments were rei^orted to the town, and committee after 
committee was appointed to fine and prosecute all offenders, but 
it availed nothing. Those who had leased the land of the town 
not being able to receive reasonable profit, owing to the many 
trespasses and encroachments, were obliged to give them up ; 
and in their statement to the town assigned the following reasons 
for so doing : 

" That, during the whole term of our leases we have labored 
under the greatest discouragement, and have been great sufferers 
by reason of an open way lain out through said land after said 
leases were executed. For, although we repeatedly attempted to 
fence against the same by a sufficient stone wall, yet we were as 
often prevented by certain unknown evil minded persons, who, as 
fast as we built up the wall by day, did in the night time throw 
the same down again, by which means, and innumerable other 
trespasses upon the premises which could neither be foreseen or 
prevented. We have been unexpectedly deprived of the great 
part of the profit Ave hoped to have reaped by our im23rovcments 
of said lands ; so upon the whole, Ave are very certain tliat all 

deducting ye charges for the use aforesaid. The committee offer to the town 
to accept the same with their thanks to them for the same. Mr. Gee at present 
refuses to give his part to ye town. Daniel Oliver, Timothy Clarke, Thomas 
Fitch, Thomas Gushing, Oliver Noyes.— Vol. 2, p. 302. 

"March 10th, 1710. Voted, That the present Selectmen, Aiz. : Addington 
Davenport, Esq., Messrs. Isaiah Gage. I'luael Oliver, Thomas Gushing, Dr. 
Oliver Noyes, Jo.seph Wardsworth, and Edward Hutchinson or any one per- 
son of them be a committee to sell tlie town's lands in JJraintreo, ijnd that they 
have full power to sign and execute Deeds for the same and yt tlioy lay out ye 
said money in some real Estate for the use of the rublic Latin school. That yo 
stock be not exhausted, Provided ye town be advised with before the money be 
disposed."— Vol. 2, p. 209. 



38 LANB GRANTS. 

the benefit we have derived from the land, Avill not recompense 
the labor and expense we have been at." 

The town not being able to devise any plan to prevent these 
annoying trespasses, concluded at last to sell the common lands. 
On the 29th of March, 1762, the town appointed Josiah Quincy, 
Samuel Niles, and Thomas Wales a committee to sell the South 
Common. They were not able at this time to get a vote to sell 
the North Common, as the opposition of the North precinct Avas 
too powerful, they voting solidly against it. But three years 
after, 1765, the Middle and South precincts joining together, out 
voted the North, and instructed the town to appoint a committee 
to sell the North Common. The following gentlemen were ap- 
pointed a committee for that purpose : Samuel Niles, John 
Adams, Jonathan Bass. 

The South Common included that high ridge of rocky hills 
directly south of the easterly end of Water street, extending 
southerly nearly to Quincy Neck. Summer street is a portion of 
the old lane laid out by the town into the South Common. This 
lane is not a part of the old Plymouth road, as many have sup- 
posed. 

The North Common commenced with the town lands on Gran- 
ite street, included the quarries now in possession of the town, 
also those belonging to the following individiials : Charles 
H. Hard wick, Frederick & Field, Mr. Henry Wood's heirs, 
Greenleaf heirs, Nathaniel F. Safford, Esq., of Milton, and ex- 
tending through to Adams street, including the Mount Ararat 
Pasture. The Blue Hill Lands were also included in this sale.^ 

The following persons are the only purchasers that we have 
been able to find who had their deeds recorded at that time, 
which was a small part of the common land sold : 

"For the sum of £84. 10s. 7d., Zachariah Marquand, of Brnin- 

1. The 3000 acres of land granted to Mr. Wintlirop for establishing iron 
works at Braintree reverted back to Uoston from breach of contract, and in 1711, 
disposed of by Boston. The grantees were Manassah Tucker, Samuel Miller, 
and John.Wadsworth, all of Milton. The Court refused to annex the whole 
purchase to Milton, for the reason that a large part of this tract of land was 
within the bounds of Braintree, and decreed that it should be divided as to 
Jurisdiction between the towns of Braintree and Milton, each to have au eq ual 
division of the 1500 acres. 



LAlfD GRANTS. 39 

tree, bought the southwest corner of the North Common, known 
as the Babel pasture, containmg forty-three acres. 1765. 

For £62. 13s. Od., John Adams secured two lots m the North 
Common. Lot No. three in the fourth division of the most 
southerly part of the common, containing twenty-three acres, 
two quarters and seventy-one rods ; also lot No. 6 in the third 
division of the most southerly j^art, containing fourteen acres. 
Oct. 14th, 1765. 

Moses and Jonathan French, for £35. 15s. 5d., pm-chased two 
lots. No. seven in the second division of the wood lot, contain- 
ing twelve acres ; the other the first lot in the third division, 
containing fifteen acres, and tweixty-five rods. 

Benjamin Baxter, yeoman, for £51. Os. 8d., bought three lots 
in the most southerly part of the common. Lot No. one in the 
first division, nine acres, 2 quarters, fourteen rods on the town 
way ; lot No. three in the first division, 15 acres, three quarters, 
and seven rods ; also lot No. five in the same division, fifteen 
acres, five rods. Reserving to the inhabitants of the town of 
Braintree a drift way for horses, teams, cattle, as has been used 
through each of the lots aforesaid, from the town road by the 
Scotch Pond, so called, quite round the Seth Bass corner, which 
drift way through the lots is to be guarded and secured by gates 
and bars. Also reserving to the town a little building standing 
on the premises called the poAvder house, and the right of improv- 
ing it for a powder house as the town shall think proper. May 
13th, 1765. 

Peter Boylston Adams secured eighteen acres, five rods for 
£28. 5s. Od. Lot No. four in the first division of the most north- 
erly division of the North Common. Benjamin Hayden, William 
Whitmarsh, James Faxon, John Vinton, equally to be divided 
between them as tenants in common, not as joint tenants, four 
lots of land in the North Common lot No. 6, in the first division 
of tfte most northerly part, containmg twenty-three acres two 
quarters eleven rods, bounded westerly on the centre line and 
extending from Seth Basses corner to the Captain's Bridge. Lot 
No. five in the second division of the most northerly part of tlic 
common, containing sixteen acres three quarters four rods. — 
Lot No. six in the second division containing sixteen acres 



40 LAND GRANTS. 

two quarters and two rods. Lot No. four in tlie second division 
twenty acres, two quarters and eight rods. May 7tli, 1765. 

April 12th, 1762. Josiah Quincy, Samuel Niles and Thos. 
Wales were appointed a committee to sell the South Commons. 
At a meeting held by the town on the 21st of May, 1764, they 
were instructed to receive back part of said land sold to Jona- 
than Allen, deceased, and for thirty three pounds, this piece of 
land, containing fifteen acres, was sold to Mr. Isaac Copeland." 

Thus ended the strifes, contentions, litigations and ill-feelings 
that it had engendered in the town between neighbors, friends 
and citizens for a century and a quarter ; it also removed a 
great element that was yearly manipulated and used in the 
interest of politicians at the election of town officers in jobbing 
out the town common to the friends of the successful candidates. 
The sale of these commons aj^pears to have supplied the town 
treasury with quite a large fund, as these barren, rocky lands 
brought a good price for the time they were sold, averaging about 
eleven dollars per acre, and this, too, before the art of stone quar- 
rying was understood in this vicinity. The tradition that the 
North Common was sold for a yoke of oxen will hardly be borne 
out in fact. Even if the commons had been sold for so small 
an amount, it was more than the King of England considered the 
whole of North America worth, as will be seen by the following 
historical fact. " "When the hard-faced old Cabot went home to 
the King of England, and told him that he had discovered North 
America, what did the King of England say to him ? We have 
the King's account-book of that day's exi)cnses. In that book 
there are these items : — 

" To the damsel that danceth, £12 

" To the man who foimd the new island, 10 

" To Jake Haute for tennis play, 9 

" To a woman with a red rose, 2 shillings. 

" By this it would seem that the Continent of North America 
was rated less than a dance, and cost the Crown of England just 
the price of one hundred roses." 

Aside from the troubles resulting from the allotments and 
commonage that we have enumerated, still another serious diffi- 
culty arose. A certain Richard Tiiayer, in 1682, laid claim to 



LAND TROUBLES. 41 

all the territory of the town of Braintree, by virtue of a surrep- 
titious Indian Deed ; he petitioned the King of England and 
obtained a hearing. The inhabitants of tlie town sent a remon- 
strance to the King, and also one to their colonial agents in Lon- 
don. The petition seems not to have been granted, as there is 
no record of the final hearing. Still it created much uneasiness^ 
among the citizens of the town, as will be seen by the following 
remonstrances : 

"At the Court at Whitehall, 2d day of March, 1682. 

" By the King's most Excellent Majesty, and the Lords of his 
Majesty's Most Honored Privy Councill. 

•" Upon reading this day at the Board, a report from the right 
Hon. the Lords of the Councill for Trade and Foreigne Plan- 
tations. 

"May it please your Majesty. 

"In obedience to your Majesty's order in Councill, the 8th of 
December last, we have considered the Petition of Richard 
Thayer,'^ complaining that the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, 

1. Mr. Thayer's claim to the township seems to have somewhat alarmed 
some of the inhabitants as to their land titles. To relieve their anxiety and 
apprehensions, a public meeting was called, March 5th, 1C82, for the pm-pose of 
assuring the timid land holders that the town would secure to them their titles at 
all hazards, notwithstanding the Indian deed. 

"At this meeting it was voted that every proprietor in the Town of Braintree, 
that are Legally so by the Town's consent, shall have and enjoy all his own 
lands and proprities in the township of Braintree which they have bought & 
enjoyed from the first being of the Town unto this day all their Legall right and 
titles to lands as their own proper right, notwithstanding any expression in ye 
Indian Deed from Josiah Sachem." 

17th July, 1C83. " At a public Towne Meeting, it was voted, that the pres- 
ent Selectmen, together with Caleb Hobart and Joseph Crosby, shall be a Com- 
mittee, and be impowered by the Towne of Brantry, to consider and act accord- 
ing to their best discretion, what may be most advisable in order to a transmis- 
sion of an Authentic Copie of a Deed from Josiah Sachem, according to his 
Majestie's order; and also to consider and to doe what may be most conducable 
for thcTowne's safety, in all the premises, to doe in behalfe of the Towne, ac- 
cording to their best judgments; only the Towne to have a sight to what is sent." 

2. " To the King most Excellent Majesty. The Humble Peticoner of Ricliard 
Tliare, of Braintry, in New England. Sheweth : 

"That yo'r Peticoner, with severall other of yo'r Majesty's Subjects, about 
forty years ago went over to New England and purchased a large Tract of Land 
of Wampatuck Josias, a great Indian Sachem, as by Deed and other writings 

7 



42 LAND TROUBLES. 

in New England, have wrongfully dispossed him of the town 
and Lands of Braintree, which he and others long since pur- 
chased of an Indian Sachem, under pretence that said town and 
lands are within the grant to that Colony, and praying that he 

fully appears, though that land is now Braintry, where they settled themselves 
and families and enjoyed quiet possession for many years ; that the Southern 
bounds of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, extend hut 
three miles in a direct southern line from every part of Charles River, as by 
their charter doth appear. Yet, under a pretence of an imaginary line, they 
have enlarged their Southern boundary and thereby taken the Town of Brain- 
try, with other towns and land thereunto belonging, into their jurisdiction, and 
by an order of a General Court, have disposed of a great part of yo'r Peticon- 
er's land by Capt. Thomas Savage and Capt. Clapp, now or late inhabitant of 
Boston. That yo'r Peticoner hath for many years been disturbed in his posses- 
sions by said Savage and Clapp upon their order of General Court, and being 
comx)elled to defend his claims to said Land in the Court of Boston, yo'r Peti- 
coner at the Tryall produced His Enroled Deed from the said Wampatuck 
Josias, but they would not be allowed of, whereupon yo'r Peticoner did in open 
Court at Boston appeal to yo'r Majesty in Couucill, to the end he might attain a 
fair Tryall for his said Land, but that being also refused, yo'r Peticoner, about 
3 years since, came over hither to make his appeal in person to yo'r Majesty. 
But through the persuasion of Mr. Stoughton and Mr. B— , their then New 
England Agents there, who promised yo'r Peticoner if he would forbear putting 
in his Peticon, and appeal, he should have all Justice and Eight don in New 
England, and be restored to his Lands. Yo'r Pet'r accordingly forebore his 
prosecution here and returned again for New England, when, instead of restor- 
ing him, they have lately granted judgement and execution against yo'r Pet's 
Lands and Plantation, and have thereby dispossessed him and his wife and 
family of their Estates, to his bitter Ruin, without yo'r Majesty's Rovall 
Justice and favor vouchsafed to him. Now, for as much as the said Town of 
Braintry, and several adjacent Towns and the Land thereto belonging, are 
not included within the Extent of the Charter or Grant either of New Ply- 
mouth or the Massachusetts Bay, but are independent from either of their juris- 
diction, and immediately under yo'r Majesty's Government and Authority, and 
that yo'r Peticoner and the other Proprietors being Loyall Subjects, and desir- 
ous of being ruled according to the laws and methods of yo'r Majesty's gracious 
Government here, both in Church and State, and not to be Subject to the 
Tyranny and oppres.sion of the said Colony. 

"Yo'r Peticoner Most Humbly prayes yo'r Sacred Majesty to take the great 
injuries and suffering of yo'r poor Loyall Subjects into yo'r princely piety and 
consideration, and to order the New England Agents now attending your 
Majesty to make it appear before yo'r Majesty, (if they can) to the satisfaction 
of yo'r Royall Wisdom that the said Town and Lands of Braintry are within 
the limits or legal construction of the said Massachusetts Charter, or that yg'r 
Peticoner may, by yo'r Royall Authority and order, be forthwith restored to the 
said Town and Lands according to his said purchase and former long enjoyment 



LAND TROUBLES. 43 

niav be relieved. To which Petition we liavc caused the 
Agent for the Colony of the Mass. to give their answer in 
writing. ' The Petitioner also showing a ])rotest which he 
made against the town of Braintree, for refusing to give him 

thereof, yo'r Peticoner being by the unjust dissision altogether impoverished 
and incapable to obtain his right otherwise than by yo'r Majesty's Gracious in- 
terposition and assistance. 

" And yo'r Peticoner, as in duty bound, shall ever Pray. 

" At the Court Whitehall, Dec. 8th, 1682. 

" Present." 

"The King's INIost Excellent M.ajesty in Councill, upon Reading the Peticon 
of Itichard Tharo, of Braintry, in New England, complaining of the Colony of 
the Massachusetts Bay, for wrongfully dispossessing him of a large tract of 
Land in that Country, which he and others long since purchased of an Indian 
Sachem, on the pretence that the said Land is within the limits of their Charter 
or Grant, as in said Peticon is more largely expressed. 

"It is this day ordered by his Majesty in Councill, that a Copy of the Peticon 
be given the Lords of the Committee for Trade and Foreign Plantations, who 
are to examine the application thereof, and to report to the board how they find 
the same, together with their Lordships' opinion, and his Majesty will declare 
his further pleasure. 

" At the Committee of Trades and Plantations, at the Councill Table at 
Whitehall, Thursday, 25th Jan., 1682-3. Present : Lord Hooper, Lord Presi- 
dent, Earl Sunderland, Earl of Clarendon, Earl of Craven, Earl of Conway, 
Earl of Rochester, Lord Vic. Fauconberg, Lord London, Lord Dartmouth. 

"The Peticon of Richard Thare, referred to their Lordships by order of the 
Councill dated the 8th of December last, is now read, setting forth the Colony 
of the Massachusetts had wrongfully dispossessed him of the Town Lands of 
Braintry, in New England, for which, after a Tryall had at the General Court 
at Boston, he had prayed an appeal to his Majesty in Council, which was not 
allowed of them, as also that the Government of the Massachu.se tts had by 
colour of an imaginary line extended their Southern Bounds, and thereby taken 
the Town of Brantry, with other Towns and Lands, into their jurisdiction, and 
imposed great hardships upon the proprietors thereof, wherefor Their Lords 
ordered that a copy of the said Peticon be sent to the Agents of the Massachu- 
setts Colony now attending his Majesty, and they return an Answer thereunto. 

"Ex't WILLIAM BLASHWAYH.' " 

"In obedience to the order of the Right. Hon., the Lords, the said Commit- 
tee of Trade and Plantations of Jan. 25th, 1082-3, in Answer to the Peticon of 
Richard Thare of Brantry, in New England, Joseph Dudley and John Rich- 
ards, in behalf of the Massachusetts Colony, Though Humbly offered. 

" That the Peticoner is but one of the inhabitant of the Town of Brantry, 
consisting of about Seventy or Eighty families, of all whose Lands the said 
Thare is so far from being the owner, as he seemeth to intennate in the prayer 
of his Peticon, that his title or pretence (that we ever lieard of) will scarcely 
reach the one hundredth part thereof, and he produced no Authority from his 
neighbours, Inhabitants of that Town, for his Peticon, 



44 LAND TROUBLES. 

the benefit of a Deed wherein he was concerned, to clear 
his title to the land claimed by him. Upon consideration 
whereof we are humbly of an opinion that the {)etition of 
appeals be received, and heard by your Majesty's Councill, 
and not only the Town of Braintree may be ordered to present 
an authcntique Copy of the said Deed, wherein the said Thayer 
is concerned, But that the government of Massachusetts Bay be 
also obliged to give notice to the Defendant, Thomas Savage 
and Capt. Clapp, of said appeals, and to send to the Boai'd such 

" That originally the same Town was a small Hamlet of farms belonging to 
the town of Boston, granted unto them by the General Assembly of the Colony 
of the INIassachusetts, and afterwards erected into a Town by there allowance, 
and certain forests Lands added to said farms for the accommodation of the 
Inhabitants, upon which grant both he and his neighbours have peaceably lived 
for about 25 years before the Deed was obtained from Josiah Sachem, in the 
Peticon mentioned. 

"That the said Deed mentioned as granted from Josias Sachem (as we sup- 
pose Mr. Thare will own) was not therefore the foundation of their Settlement 
upon said Lands and the Town of Braintry, but was many years since obtained 
on the account and behalf of all the Inhabitants of the Town jointly and not 
singly for Mr. Thare, they having Equal Eights and share in it, and that in 
greater proportion than the Peticoner, and was taken of the said Sachem as a 
further confirmation of their title to their several possessions, which they have 
been long peaceably settled. 

"That the line between his Majesty's Collonys, the Massachusetts and New 
Plymouth, hath been a Collony for forty years settled, and many times since 
confirmed to their mutual satisfaction, particularly to Maj. Winslow, the late 
Governor, and severall others commissioned from both Collonys about twenty 
years since, and is at this time questioned by nou as we know off but !Mr. Thare, 
who hath sometimes (as he pleaseth himself) judged it to belong to the Massa- 
chusetts, sometimes to Plymouth, and now to neither. 

"That his Tryall with Mr. Savage, Capt. Clapp, when holden in his Majes- 
ty's Court before sworn judges, jurors, and there determined as a question of 
private Right between the partyes, who had the better Eight to the land in ques- 
tion, the Massachusetts Collonj- being no way concerned to support the title of 
the one or the other, but to do justice between both parties. 

"That the Inhabitants of Braintry and other Towns, within the jurisdiction 
of his ^Majesty's Collony of the said Massachusetts, have had no hardship im- 
posed on them by the Massachusetts, no Laws being made without the Depu- 
ties' Assistance, and it is believed Mr. Thare hath very few (if any) to join 
with him in that complaint. 

" Any further particular account of the proceedings in the copy mentioned 

in his Peticon referring thereto, we cannot, having not in our hand the papers 

or record thereof. " 

"No Signature. Feb. 5th, 1682."— Mass. Arch., Vol. 3, p. 34-35. 



LAND TROUBLES. 45 

papers and Records as shall bo necessary for the full dcsission of 
the Case. 

"Councill Chamber, February IGth, 1G82-3. 
" His Majesty, in Councill, was pleased to approve thereof, to 
receive and admitt the appeal of the said Richard Thayer, and 
it was therefore ordered that the whole matter be heard at this 
board the first Councill day in Michalmas Term next, and that 
the matter may be then finally determined. It was likewise 
further ordered that the said town of Braintrec do forthwith 
have sent an authentique copy of the Deed^ wherein the said 
Thayer is concerned, and the Government of the Massachusetts 
Bay are also required to give notice to the said defendant, 

1. The following is an authentic copy of this Indian Deed. It is still pre- 
served, and to be seen in the town honse of old Braintrec. On the back of it 
is the following: " In the 17th reign of Charles II., Brantry Indian Deede, given 
IGGo, Aug. 10th. Take great care of it." 

" INDIAN DEED. 

"To all Indian people to whom these presents shall come : — "Wampatuck, 
alias, Josiah Sagamore, of Slassachusetts, in Newenglaud, the son of Chicka- 
tabut, deceased, sendeth greeting : Know yoo that the said Wampatuck, being 
of full age and power, according to the order and custom of the natives, hath 
with the consent of his wise men, viz. : Squamog, his brother Daniel, and old 
Hahatun, and "William Mananiomott, Job Nassott, Manuntago, William Na- 
hanton. The abovesaid Wampatuck Sagamore, for divers good and valuable 
reasons thereunto, and in special for, and in consideration of twenty-one pounds, 
ten shillings in hand, payd by Samuel Basse, Thomas Faxon, Francis Eliot, 
William Needham, and William Savill, Henry Neale, Richard Thayer, Chris- 
topher AVebb, all of Braintrey, in the County of Suffolk, in New-England, in 
the behalf of the inhabitants of the Town of Braintrey, above said, within 
themselves; whereof and wherewith the said Wampatuck doth acknowledge 
himself fully satisfieil, contented and paj'd ; thereof and of every part thereof 
doth exonerate, acquit and discharge the abovesaid Samuel Basse, Thomas 
Faxon, &c., with all the inhabitants of the Town of Braintrey, them, their 
heirs, executors, administrators, and assignes, and every of them. And by these 
presents have given, granted, bargained, sold, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by 
the.«e presents do give, grant, bargain, soil, enfeoff, and confirm unto the said 
Samuel Basse, Thomas Faxon, &c., and wiili Uieuiselves, in the behalf of all the 
inhabitants of the Town of Braintrec, them, their heirs and assignes, forever, 
all the East of lands within the bounde of Braintrey, above-said, bo there 
more or lesse, being bounded on the sea side with the North East, and with 
Dorchester line on the North West, and by Waymouth lino by the Soutli East, 
and by Dorchester line on the South "West. Excepting ]Mr. Wilson's farmo, 
Mr. Coddington's farme, Mr. Hough's Neck of laud, Mr. Quiusey's farmo, which 



46 LAND TKOUBLES. 

Thomas Savage and Capt. Clapj), of the said appeals, and to 
send to this Board such papers and Records as shall be necessary 
for the final desission of this Case, at the same time, according 
to the said report. FRANCIS GUYN." 

Mass, Arch. Vol. 1, page 187. 

"Remonstrance made by the town of Braintree, within the 
Massachusetts Colony in New England, against a complaint 
exhibited to the King's Most Excellent Majesty by Richard 
Thayer, complaining against us : 

" Whereas, having first made the most sincere and solemn 
protestation of our loyalty and subjection, under sacred obliga- 
tions, unto our sovereign lord the King, with our most hearty 
and humble acknowledgement of his Majesty's royal favor in 
granting and given unto us a being under his Government of 
the Massachusetts, by benefit of which we have lived under the 
most benign influence of his princely wisdom, 2)ower, grace, and 

lands were purchased by the abovesaid men of his predecessors, which the said 
Wampatuck doth hereby confirm, being all the lands within the bounde of 
Braintrey, abovesaid, with all the trees, timber, wood, underwood, standing, 
lying, growing thereon, together with all the meadow lands, swamps, ponds, 
rivers, and brooks, lying between the bounde of Dorchester and Waymouth, 
together with all privileges and appurtenances belonging or anyways appertain- 
ing to the same, to the said Samuel Basse, Thomas Faxon, &c., in the behalf 
and for the use of all the inhabitants of Braintrey, to them, their heirs and 
assignes, forever. To have and to hold the said bargained premises, as before 
buttelled and bounded, together with all deeds, evidences, M'ritings and monu- 
ments, thnt concern the same, in particular, fair and uncancelled unto the said 
Samuel Basse, Thomas Faxon, &c., to the only and proper use of the inhab- 
itants of the Town of Braintree, to them and to their heirs and assignes, 
forever. And the said Wampatuck, for himself, and for his heirs, and 
executor.s, administrators and assignes, doth covenant and grant with the 
full consent of his wise men, abovesaid, and with Samuel Bass, Thomas Fax- 
on, &c., and with them, in the behalf of the inhabitants of the Town of Brain- 
trey, aforesaid, to them, their heirs and assignes, by these presents, that the said 
AVampatuck is the right owner of the said bargained premises, and to every part 
thereof, unto the day of the date thereof, an<l hath himself full power and law- 
full authority to bargain, sell, convey, and assure the same, in manner and form 
abovesaid. And that the said Samuel Basse, Thomas Faxon, &c., with the 
inhabitants of the Town of Braintrey, shall fore\'er, hereafter, peaceably and 
quietly enjoy, have and hold the said bargained, with the appurtenances thereof, 
as abovesaid, free and clear, and clearly acquitted from all former bargains, 
sales, gifts and grants, joynture's tytles, dowrys, tytlcs of dowers, estates, 
mortgages, forfeitures, judgements, executions, and any other incumbrances, 



LAND TROUBLES. 47 

goodness, witli tranquillity and prosperity, nnto this day, and 
for the continuance of which shall forever remain most humble 
and earnest supjiliants unto the gi-eat God and our most gracious 
King, as the greatest happiness that Ave can (at this distance) 
crave, or in this Wilderness enjoy. 

" We .do profess ourselves (upon reading and hearing a true 
copy) to be surprised with astonishment at the impudence and 
presuration of said Rich. Thayer, in dareing to approach the 
Royal presence for audencc with a complaint made up and com- 
posed of notorious untruth and falsehood^ under Avhich we do 
relieve ourselves only by the consideration of his character and 
condition, whereby he is notoriously known in New England to 
be a person too likely to be the author of such a composure, 
wherein he boldly and most impudently speaks that which Avill 
appear to be incredible, and impossible in reason to be believed 
Avhen his falsehood therein shall be detected, and the truth de- 

whatever ; as, also, from all tj^tles of anj- person or persons, claiming anj- right 
or tytle, interest or propriety to the same, or any part of the same, in, from, or 
under him, the said Wampatuck, or any of his predecessors. Excepting some 
lauds abovesaid; whereby the said inhabitants of the Town of Braiutrey, their 
heirs or assignes, shall, or may be, hereafter, molested by either English or 
Indian person, or persons, or unlawfully hunted out of the possession, by, from 
or under him. And that the said Samuel Basse, Thomas Faxon, &c., or any 
other in the behalf of the inhabitants of Braintrey, aforesaid, shall have free 
liberty to record and enroll the said bargained premises, or cause it to bo en- 
rolled according to the usual custom of recording tytles in such a case. Also 
the said "Wampatuck reservetli liberty to hunt and fish, provided he do the Eng- 
lish no harm. In the fifth day of August, one thousand, six hundred and 
sixty-five, and in the seventeenth year of the reign of our Lord and Sovereign, 
King Charles the second, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, 
France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. 
c;;„..^i „„,i„i„ 1 1 1- , 1 AVitli some words in the original, interlined, but 
h .^ frf" .^ifJ '^^''''^'^'^ J here inserted in their proper places, viz., men 
uj lurr anu twig. ^ .^^ ^j^^ 3^ ^^^^^ j^j^. Q^jugg^-g f^rme. Hue 13th. 

In presence of 

KooKu Billings, "1 Daniel St/UAMOfi, 

BiiNJAMiN Thompson. i his 7 marko and a seale. 

I Old Nahatin, 
Thomas Kkyahgunsson, i liis X niarke and a seale. 

liis C niarke. | William ISIanunion, 



JOSKPH Manunion, 

liis H niarke. 
Thomas Wevjious, 

bis O niarke. 
J OS I AH, alias Wampatuck, 

his lO marke, his O seale. 



his W niarke and a seale. 

Jon NOISTKNNS, 

and a seale. 
Bop.icRT, alias ]SIaml'nt.\go, 

his H niarke and a seale. 
William Hahatun, 

and his seale. 



48 LA.ND TROUBLES. 

clared, which we shall hereby endeavor to do truly and fully. 
For,— 

" Whereas, R. Thayer saith that he, with several others of his 
Majesty's subjects, went into New England about forty years 
ago. It is true his very poor father, with eight y>ooy children, 
of which this Richard was one, came into New England two- 
and-forty years ago, in the year forty-one, in exceeding mean 
and low condition, and was suffered to sojourn, as a poor man 
and stranger, in a remote and obscure part of the town, untill he 
adventured to purchase only four acres of land, which at that 

time, and in that place, might be bought shillings , a 

very small matter, yet more than the poor man was able or 
willing to pay. The grantor, yet living with us, now saith he is 
not paid for it to this day. This Richard, who now affirms him- 
self to have been such a mighty purchaser as to make himself a 
partner and proprietor, with about seven more, in and of a town- 
ship, lands and plantations, which he talk of, was then, and di- 
vers years after, in his nonage, incapable to be such a potent 
purchaser or great proprietor as he pretends he was. And, — 

" Whereas, he saith that himself, with several others, about 
forty years ago came to New England, and purchased, &c. We 
do not know that any one who came with him settled in this 
town, or were any way concerned with him in this or any other 
purchase. Sure we are, that none of them nominated with him 
upon the Indian Deed, by which he claims, came to New Eng- 
land with him, or know anything of him untill he aj)peared in 
the pitiful condition aforesaid. 

" He also pretends his great j^urchase to be made about two- 
and-forty years ago of Wompatuck Josias, whereas that sachem 
was then in his nonage as well as himself, under guardianship, 
not capable to sell his country ; which indeed was really sold by 
Kickquatabut, his father, and Sagamor John, his grandfather, 
and other petty sachems, and bought by the English long before 
Richard Thayer was brought to New England, and, we, believe, 
more than tAventy years before the deed was given by Wompa- 
tuck Josias, which indeed was given and received only as con- 
firmation of the English title, long before truly made by pur- 
chase, but not so amply confirmed by writing, which was not 



LAND TROUBLES. 49 

thought SO necessary unto Indian Conveyances untill of later 
thne. Ncitlier can it be thought tliat Womijatuck Josias, wlio 
was known to be of more than ordinary understanding in the 
hinguage and affairs of the English, — being bred up froni child- 
hood among us, and a great lover of us, — would sell our town- 
ship:* and lands from us to Richard Thayer, much less for twenty- 
and-four pouiuls, which he knew [sic] was valuable at so high a 
rate with the English proprietors, had he not acknowledged our 
former right from his predecessors to be good, and accej^ted that 
small sum as an acknoAvledgement from us for his confirmation 
of our former title by writing. 

"He saith, 'themselves and families enjoyed qiuet i)Ossession 
for many years,' whereas it is known that neither he, nor any 
other i)urchaser nominated upon the said deed, ever i)ossessed 
the townshi)) of Braintree, or any part thereof, by virtue of that 
purchase; both he and they had possession aiul enjoyment long 
before his pretended purchase was made. Neither have any of 
those nominated with him ui)on said deed ever jiretended any 
the least right of propriety to any lands or possession by virtue 
of that deed. What other deeds and writings in his complaint 
he speaks of, we know not ; we were never concerned Avith him 
in any other. The deed itself, whereby he makes his claim, de- 
clares him to be only a jHirchnser for and in behalf of said town 
and inhabitants thereof, and therefore that he purchased no 
]n-operty unto himself or unto any other, but only purchased the 
confirmation of the common right, from the Indian title, to his 
own and to every other particular inhabitant of Braintree, — 
every other inhabitant having as good claim by that deed to the 
town of Braintree, and his own ])articular possession therein, as 
Richard Thayer, and most of them much better, and jiaid n:ore 
to that ])urchase. It cannot be imagined that we betrustcd 
Richard Thayer to buy both ourselves and our children out of 
all lands and possessions, and so out of the world. 

" The complaint of the General Court hath disi)osed of a 
great part of his lands, to his grief. It is true those lands were 
disposed of by the General Court tAventy or thirty years before 
Thayer was a purchaser, or the deed by which he claims had any 
being. That ever he had any trial with Capt. Clapp for any 

8 



50 LAND TROUBLES. 

land within the townshij) of Braintrec, or by any claims from the 
foresaid deed, we do not iiudcrstand. That Major Savage miglit 
defend his right and possessions ag:unst his imaginary, pretend- 
ed Indian Claims, rightfully we believe. 

" lie yet further complains that he hath been dispossessed 
of his lands and plantation, and prays in his petition that he may 
be forthwith restored to the town and lands, according to his 
purchase and former long enjoyment, &c. We never understood 
that he made such vast claims to whole jjlantations in New Eng- 
land, nor unto oiir town, much less that he had possession, — and 
(as he saith,) long enjoyment of our town and lands, and we 
know that he hath never been dispossessed and ejected. If ever 
he had possession and enjoyment of the town of Braintree, he 
hath it still. The government never ejected him that we 
know of, 

"He presiiines boldly in his complaint, that this and divers 
other adjacent towns are neither within the Massachusetts nor 
Plymouth jurisdiction. But how is it then, that Richard Tliayer 
himself hath been so often and great plaintiff in his Majesty's 
Courts of Justice here, and brought so many cases and actions 
to a trial under this Government of tins Massachusetts, and 
pleaded the liberties and laws of it? or, how doth he complain 
of wrong and injury by their not granting of him an appeal, if 
both himself, his lands and possessions be (as he saith,) without 
their jurisdiction, and independent thereupon, and consequently 
his case beyond their cognizance? Or, how could he return 
from England (as he said he did) ui3on promise from the then 
New England Agents, with confidence and ex^^ectation of all 
justice and right to be done him by this Government, whicli he 
pleads had never any power to exercise any jurisdiction over 
him or his territories? Or how can he, with those others whom 
he pretends to personate in his com})laint, ap])rovc themselves 
such good and loyal subjects to his Majesty, having, without 
charter from him, i)urchased and possessed some of his Majesty's 
towiijj and plantations, (and as now he sui^poseth,) lived between 
forty and fifty years without any exercise of his Majesty's 
Government, and so could have been contented to live forever 
had it not been for the tyranny and oppression of this Colony, 



LAND TROUBLES. 51 

which he makes such grevious cry nnd complaint of, and in the 
same breath confesseth that he and his peoi)le had quiet posses- 
sion for many years, and former long enjoyment of his said pur- 
chase, -which was made but about tAventy years since? Surely, 
then, it is but very lately that he hath felt that tyranny and 
oppression. 

" And -whereas he complaineth most deeply and sensibly of the 
utter ruin of himself and family ; we believe it to be the real 
burden of his complaint. But we are witnesses to our knoAvl- 
edge that he ha'th brought this ruin upon himself ; for although 
he was never much better, yet now we believe he hath made him- 
self somewhat worse than poor ; having expended his time, and 
that little estate which he had in contention and litigation by law- 
suits, and we more than fear, driven an unlawful and dangerous 
trade with the Indians, tending much to their debauching, with 
Avhom he hath been dealing so much for Indian deeds and titles 
to land, and by these ways, having made himself one of the 
forlorn hope among men of desperate fortunes, he hath left him- 
self little or nothing but such imaginary vexatious claims to his 
neighbors lands and possessions ; and can find nothing for his 
living but by lliis way of lying and romancing about his vast 
dominions and territories of lands, plantations and towns to pros- 
ecute his fictitious claims, whilst his wife and family live in sordid 
poverty at home. 

" We have received notice that he hath presented a protest 
against us for refusing to give him a copy of the said deed to 
his great damage ; whereas the town never gave him such denial, 
only some persons told him the deed was not then perfected, a 
c()])y he might have taken long since at his jileasure. Neither 
did we then understand it the town's business to give him or 
any other particular inhabitant a copy; and if the town be 
Richard Thaycr\s by virtue of that deed, as he supjioseth, the 
town was not concerned in said deed. In obedience to his 
Majesty's order, avc do readily transmit an authentic copy out of 
the public records. 

" That Richard Thayer hath represented us (not only) as his 
poor terre-tenants and vassals, living upon his lands and i)lanta- 
tion without rendering unto him his dues, but also as a vagrant 



52 LAND TROUBLES. 

people living together, with many others in the adjacent towns, 
withovit any of his majesty's jurisdiction and the exercise of his 
Majesty's Government, and also insinuates that we of Braintree 
and the people of other towns do find ourselves aggrieved by 
the extension of the southern line of the Massachusetts, and 
oppressed by the tyranny of his Majesty's Government. Herein 
he hath most evidently wronged ns, for it hath appeared by an 
humble address to his sacred Majesty, made and subscribed by 
an hundred and thirty-four hands out of this small town (con- 
sisting of about ninety or a hundred families at • the most) and 
by as many proportionably out of the neighboring towns, that 
we, together with the body of the people in these towns are far 
from such sense of tyranny and oppression here. 

" We cannot tell whetlier Richard Thayer can find one beside 
himself that will complain as he liath done. We are beyond oiir 
expression thankful for the mercy of God, and the grace and 
favour of our gracious Sovereign in continuance unto us that 
Royal Charter, whereby we are settled under his Majesty's 
Government in the Massachusetts Colony, upon which our 
fathei-s with their families were by his Majesty's authority here 
placed upon and possessed of these lands by the indubitable 
rights of our Charter, as indisputable by him, the true bounds 
and limits thereof, and that from the first original of the planta- 
tion of this Colony, and liave ever since, both l)y i)erson and es- 
tate, supported his Majesty's Government here, and endeavoured 
to the utmost of our i)0wer and Tibility to serve his Majesty as his 
true and loyal subjects, rejoicing in all those great acts of grace 
wlicieby his Majesty hath most graciously heretofore and liither- 
unto at all times owned and cherished us as his good subjects of 
the jNIassnchusetts, and we shall ever pray that (as such) we 
and ours after us, may live to fear God and honor the King." ^ 

" Remonstrance of the inhabitants of Braintry to the Colonial 
Agents : 

" To our Honoured Agents, Josepli Dudley and .lolin Rich- 
ards, Esqrs. : 

"Besides the universall thanks of an whole colony, wliich your 
faithfull and constant endeavours for the preservation of our im- 

1. See Mass. Hist. So. Coll., Fourth Series, Vol. V, p. 104. 



LAND TROUBLES. 63 

munitys call for, and most really deserve, and our hearts and 
hands joync in. Wee, your poore neighbours in IJraintry, inhab- 
itants, thinke ourselves bound to render our particular thankes 
for your most nervous and suitable answer exhibited to his sacred 
Majesty and Council, to sundry reports exhibited and insinuated 
by Richard Thayer of our towne, Avhose endeavors to pursuade 
his Majestic and Council that wee are discontented with or tyr- 
annized over by this Government is iitterly ffalse. That wee 
have sworne loyaltie yourselves can attest, which is more than 
ever he jjractized if ever he promised. Neither is it likely that 
he that layes a traine to blow up the reputation, liberty and 
rights of his poore tieighbours, Avould (like another F. Faux) 
refuse to put lire in a more desperate Case. Had wee any com- 
plaints to make (as meane as wee are) Avee could find more man- 
ly advocates, yet not so sordid, as (if possibly to bee avoided 
and evaded) to admitt such a bramble to rule over us. Wee 
(as to the Commission sent over) have attended it. Some things 
are to be i)ractised, not disputed, of which nature this is. By 
what (this Mr. Thayer, as your Honours please to call him) is 
buoyed uj), wee cannot see, but hee lookes like a litle Soveraigne 
here, before the power be in his hands. And of a mushrome, 
hee's SAvolne in conceipt to a Coloss, or giant of State, and 
dreams of a Dukedome or petty province, since at first essay hee 
hath gotten a Maister-shippe. His father's slioj)pe, Avho was a 
cobler, would now hardly contcine him Avith his arms a KemboAV. 
The vast tract of land he makes such a puther about is a mere 
Utopia, or, if more, a derne solitary desert, and his share therein 
can hardly reach the five hundredth part. As for the limits of 
the Colonys, wee have nothing but records, they having been 
stated by a speciiU order from his Majesty, above tAventy-five 
years since, and disputable only by Mr. Thayer, Avho, having sold 
himself out of both colonies, seeks to draAV in sovereigne assis- 
tance to create him a ncAV Avorld botAveene them. The body of 
the toAvne are of one soule as to satisfaction in the present Goa- 
enimont, and looke at themselves as basely traduced by Thayer's 
reports. Whose cards, had they been good, hee had the less 
need of cheating, fraud and fjilsehood to helpe him out. If any 
whose birth or breeding Bralntry knows not, have crept into the 



54 LAND GRANTS. 

skirts of our scattering towne at una^vares, such, and such only, 
can wee suspect of willingness to alter the present Government, 
whose despicable fortunes and spirits by such innovations may 
be heightened to doe their innocent neighbours a mischiefe and 
themselves no good. Our consciences doe not chide us for dis- 
loyalty, nor our Sovereigne. Nor are wee afraid to looke our 
neighbour in the face, having hopes to bee believed in our reports 
as well as hee, who hath given out such vapouring words, as are 
sufficient to make an host of cowards run out of y'r Avits, but we 
hope none of us shall step out of the colony. The same clem- 
ency that hath appeared in our Sovereigne, to lend an eare to a 
single complaint, wee hope will not be stopt at the petitions of 
many hundreds living, and thousands unborne, for the con- 
tinuance of our wonted liberties, according to our arajDle charter 
by the Royall James, and by Charles the first of 'blessed memory, 
and by our present and most celebrated Sovereigne continued, 
and which wee have never violated. Wee cease not day nor 
night to pray for his Royall p'son, Our great defender under God, 
and for his most Honourable Council. Neither do we forget 
your honours, our most faithfull advocates, but begge the most 
high to secure your persons, succeed and prosper your consulta- 
tions, dispatch your affaires, and hasten your returne, that 
thoiisands who at your departure disbursed floods of tears, may 
once at length embrace you with an ocean of joy. 

" Your Honours affectionately obliged serv^'ts, 

Richard Brackett, Edmund Quinsey, 

Samuel Tompson, CHRisToriiER Webbe. 

Caleb Hobart. 

" Braintry, Newengland, 14th, 6th, 1683. 

"Addressed. 'To our Honoured agents, Joseph Dudley ancj 
John Richards, Esqurs, at London.' 

" Endorsed in Dudley's hand, Brainti-y." ^ 

It might be useful to describe some of the old land marks 
noticed in the early records in laying out and locating the bounds 
of land, &c., tliat have now become extinct. 

Tlie Newbury Farm, in the early settlement of the town, was 
in Dorchester, noAV ward twenty-four, Boston, and located this 

1. See Mass. Gen. Hist. Kegister, Vol. XIX, p. 53. 



LAND MARKS. 55 

side of the Neponset river ; it has since been annexed to Quincy. 
Tliis farm contained about four hundred acres. 

The Wilson Farm joined tlie Newbury Farm on its northerly 
bounds. This farm embraced Avhat is now Mr. E. ]>. Taylor's, 
Rawson's, and a part of John J. Glover's farms ; also a portion of 
Wollaston Heights. 

The Furnace Brook probably derived its name from an old 
iron furnace having been erected on it. It takes its source in the 
southwesterly part of the town, and runs in a northeasterly 
direction, and enters Quincy Bay at the Mount Wollaston farm. 
This portion of the stream goes by the name of Black's Creek, 
deriving this name from Mr. Moses ]51ack, a former owner of 
this farm, now occupied by Mr. Peter Butlei-, and formerly the 
old Quincy domain. It is said that vessels have been built on 
this creek. 

Town Brook runs through the centre of the town, or as it is 
called in the early records, the " heart of Braintrce," and empties 
into the Quincy Canal, 

Standing or Dead. Brook is at what is now Wollaston Heights, 
running tlirough Mr. Josiali Quincy's laud into the bay. 

Bear Meadow and Wolf Pit, so often mentioned in the old 
records of deeds, we have not been able to locate. 

Shij) Cove was at what is now called Quincy Neck, and was 
the earliest place where vessels were built. They were ])rinci- 
pally constructed for fishing purposes. 

The Great Fenced Fields so frequently mentioned in the old 
records comprised the land at Quincy Point, and extended to 
Knight's Neck, (now Quincy Neck) including Ship Cove. 

Stony Fields embraced the Cranch farm, so-called, directly 
back of President's Hill. 

Scotch Pund Uoad was the old Avay to the North Comrnons, 
and lau in a northwesterly direction througli the Commons to 
Adams street, opposite the estate of Mr. William Greenough. 
For years it has been discontinued. 

The Old Fields District was that })art of the town now called 
Quincy Point. 

Woods' District embraced that ])art of the town now called 
West Quincy. 



56 LA.ND MARKS. 

The Farms included that tract now called North Quincy. 

Pumpkin Hill, — It seems by the old records that on this eleva- 
tion, jjumpkins, those luxuries of " ye olden times," were raised 
in common. It was in the vicinity of 'what is called Souther's 
Hill, and a part of Dublin. 

Monatiquot, — It appears by the records of deeds that this 
name, so constantly mentioned to locate land in this vicinity, 
was used to designate the old town of Braintree. 

Randol])h, or the south precinct of the old township of Brain- 
tree, before its incorporation, was described as Quocheco, Cocha- 
to, and latterly Scadding, 

"The Three Hill Marsh is the great salt marsh lying immedi- 
ately southeast of Mount Wollaston." 

We find so many Captain's Plains and Captain's Bridges that 
it is of little or no use to define them. 

Moor's Farm was on a tributary of the Monatiquot river, and 
near Great Pond. By a vote of the town in 1766, they prohib- 
ited shutting up of any dam that would exclude the course of 
alewives up the Moor's Farm River. 

" Bcndal's Farm was probably the tract granted to Mr. Edward 
Bendal in July, 1641, of four hundred acres. It lies in the west- 
erly part of Randoli)h, probably between the site of the present 
Congregational Meeting-house on the south, and the Baptist 
Meeting-house on the north." 

Knight's Neck was formerly called Braintree Neck, and was 
annexed to Quincy April 24th, 1856. It is now called Quincy 
Neck. 

Shed's Neck included that tract of land which is now called 
Germantown. 

Hough's Neck still retains its original name, 

Penn's Hill was named after a Mr. William Penn, who, in the 
first settlement of the town, owned tlie most of the hill and also 
a large tract of land on the Monatiquot river, which he sold to 
the Iron C()mi)any. In the first town records it is always called 
Penn's Hill, and we can find no authority for calling it by any 
other name. 



INCOKPOEATION OF UUINCY. 



We find ns early ns 172S, an effort was made to iiK'or])orate 
the Nortli Precinct of Braintree into a sei)arate town, wliieli 
proved unsuccessful, as will be seen from the followintx acticm of 
tlie town on the question, viz : — 

" There was a meeting of the town of Braintree, to receive 
the re])ort of tlie committee to whom was referred the subject 
of dividing tlie town, who reported in favor, l)nt the town would 
not accept it." ^ 

1. " Jan. 31st, ]728-!). It was then voted that a Committee be chosen in be- 
half of the Town, to confer and agree upon sonje method for dividing the Town 
at their next meeting, for their accei)tance, the said Committee to have consid- 
eration of the dividing line. 

" Then also voted that a Committee of eight men, (four in the North precinct, 
and four in the other Precinct,) be cliosen for the affair abo\e said, after which 
Major .Tohn Quincy, Lt. Joseph Xeal, Mr. Benjamin Heal, ^Ir. Josej)h Crosby, 
Mr. Thomas White, Mr. Nehemiah Hayden, ISIr. Benjamin Lndden, and Mr. 
Itichard Thayer, Secundtts, being nominated, were separatly voted to be the 
Committee above said, after which, a vote being passed, therefore the meeting 
was adjourned until the last Monday in February next, at one of the Clock, 
afternoon." 

"On February '_'4th, 17l.'<S-ii, the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the 
Town, being assembled by adjournment from January iJlst last past, to Keceive 
the IJeport or agreement of the Committee chosen at their meeting on the .said 
151st day of January to agree upon a method for dividing the Town, li-c. 

" The said Committee ai)peared and presented their agreement thereabout in 
writing, subscribed by all the said Committee, (and being now on tile,) contain- 
ing eight articles, which was publickly Head in said meeting, after which, upon 
a motion made, the question was put whether the agreement of the Committee 
should be voted Article by Article, and it pas.scd in the negative. The question 
was then i)ut whether all the articles thereof should be voted upon at once. It 
pas.sed again in the negative. 

"Tlie question was then again put whether they would accept of the lieport 
of the said Committee. It again i)as.sed in the negative. After this, upon a 
motion made. The (luestion was put whether they would llcconsider their last 

9 



58 INCOEPORATION OF QUINCY. 

This question of separation was agitated for some years, when 
at last a few inliabitants of that part of Squantuni that then be- 
longed to the town of Dorchestei-, with the people of the North 
Precinct of Braintree, Knight's Neck, and a part of the town of 
Milton, in 1791, petitioned the General Court for an act of incor- 
poration as a distinct township.-^ 



vote, viz., non-acceptance, and it was voted in the Affirmative. Then again 
the question was put whether they would accept of the Keport of the Com- 
mittee, and it passed in the negative. Upon which the meeting was dismissed." 
1. Petition of the North Precinct of Braintree, and otlaers, for a separation 
from Braintree as an independent municipality: 
To the Honorable Senate and Ilonoruhle House of Representatives : 

" The inhabitants of the North Precinct of Braintree, in the County of Suffolk, 
together with some others nearly adjacent, whose local circumstances, tho' with- 
out the limits of the said Precinct, are similar to theirs. Beg leave to lay before 
this Honorable Court their humble petition, expressive of their wishes to he 
incorporated into a distinct township. 

"Your petitioners are so fully persuaded of the wisdom and justice of this 
Honorable Court, that they would not presume knowingly to ask any favor 
from the Fathers of their Country, which those governing principals could dis- 
approve. 

" The inhabitants of the North Precinct of Braintree occupy that part of the 
present town which was antiently known by the name of Mount Wollaston, 
and was afterwards incorporated by the name of Braintree. The situation of 
this Precinct, together with the detached parts of Dorchester, separated from 
the rest of that town by the Neponset River, but joining on said North Precinct, 
is chiefly on the sea shore, containing several Peninsulars and Necks of land, 
which, from the winding of the shores and roads, make the common intercourse 
between the several parts long and tedious, and the great distance that must be 
travelled to many of your petitioners for the purpose of transacting business in 
the several towns to which they now belong is burthensome, and in some 
seasons of the year exceedingly difficult; and those of your petitioners in partic- 
ular who inhabit the Farms, (so called,) and the long Peninsular known by the 
name of Squantum, humbly beg the Honorable Court to recollect that by their 
record it appears, tiiat when their ancestors first settled on those detached lands 
on the south side of the river, there was then in that place a public road and 
ferry, established by authority of the government, which was the only commu- 
nication between the young sister Colonies of Massachusetts and Plymouth. By 
means of the ferry on Neponset Kiver at the Farms, they had such free inter- 
course with their bretheren on the north side of the river, as probably first 
encouraged their settling down there, and afterwards gave them an easy partici- 
pation of all the civil and religious priviledges of the town of Dorchester, to 
which they belong. But your petitioners, the inhabitants of that part of Dor- 
chester, born long since that road and ferry have been disused, are now in a 
great measure deprived of their priviledges, more especially of the happiness of 



INCORPORATION OF QUINCV. 



59 



What is soincwhnt curious about tliis jtctition is, tliat tho 
whole argunicnt of the petitioners for a separation, is cxchi- 
sively devoted to tlie interest and accommodation of a few 
people located in that part of Squantum then belonging to 



worshiping with tlieir friends and hretheren, in the house where only they had 
a right to worship and meet tosether. The river, being impassable for horses, 
is a constant bar to their meeting there, and they, with tlieir children, are 
obliged to meet on Courtesy with their neighbors and joint petitioners, in the 
meeting-house in the North Precinct in IJraintree. For these reasons, the 
inhabitants of the Farms, and Squantum in particular, would humbly urge 
tlieir wishes to. the Honorable Court, that they may be set off from Dorchester, 
together with their bretheren and priviledges, and joined to the said North 
Precinct of Braintree, and that such au incorporation might be granted as they 
on their part might enjoy the common priviledges of citizens and christians, of 
which, by their local circumstances, they have been, for a long time, in a great 
measure deprived. 

" Your petitioners, being impressed with the common sentiment of their 
country, have a warm desire of seeing their children educated in such a manner 
as is best adapted to render them the most useful members of Societj', and as 
they inhabit a long extent of sea coast, their character and habits of life will 
naturally take a maritime cast, and an education adapted to tit them for trade, 
navigation, fishery, and the attendant arts and manufactories, would be very 
desirable, and, as your petitioners humbly conceive, would be greatly advanced 
under such an incorporation, when those that advance the money for schools 
might apply it to the best advantage, and our youth be thereby rendered more 
extensively useful to their families, and benefactors to the public. For these 
reasons, your petitioners humbly pray that they, with their lands, may be incor- 
porated into a distinct town, by the name , agreeable to plans annexed, 

or within such other limitations as to your great wisdom may seem meet. And 
your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 

" The undersigned are the inhabitants of the North Precinct of Braintree : — 



Lemuel Badcock, 
Moses Black, 
Eben. Brackett, 
Henry Cleverly, 
Edw. W. Baxter, 
Rich. Newcomb, 
John 11. Newcomb, 
Kcmeinber Newcomb, 
"William Adams, 
Jona. Baxter, 
Loring White, 
Leonard Cleverly, 
Daniel Crane, 
Bryant Newcomb, 
Abel Alleyn, 



Peter Brackett, 
Elijah Vesey, 
Elijah Vesey, Jr., 
Jona. Webb, 
Seth Burrell, 
John Newcomb, 
Eben. Miller, 
Kich. Cranch, 
Edm'd Billings. 
James Brackett, 
Seth Spear, 
Samuel Brown, 
Samuel Ilobart, 
William Meads, 
Edmund Suvill, 



Peter Bicknal, 
Norton Quincy, 
George Mears, 
Jona. Marsh, 
Jos. Cleverly, Jr., 
Eben. A'csey, 
Peter Hartwick, 
Mottram Vesey, 
Daniel Arnold, 
Samuel Savill, '_M, 
Moses Brackett, Jr., 
Seth Baxter, 
Jos. N. Arnold, 
Bcnj. Pray, 
Josiah Bass, 



60 



IN^CORPOEATION OF QUINCY. 



Dorchester. Although the Nortli Precinct of Braintree united 
with them in the jietition for a separation, there is not, 
on tlieir j^art, tlie least mention made in it that a distinct 
organization would be of any benefit or advantage to them. 



Josepli Tirrell, Jr., Amos Stetson, 

I?enj. Saunders, John Sanders, 

Jed. Adams, Jos. Cleverly, 2d, 

Peter Adams, Wni. Chandler, 

Wm. Spear, Abram Newcomb, 

Wni. Vesey, Thomas Cleverly, 

Benj. Beale, Thompson Baxter, 

James Apthorp, James Field, 

Jos. Crane, Thomas Phipps, 

Jona. Beale, John Chesman, 

Nath'l Beale, Nath. Glover, 

Wm. Glover, Thomas Brackett, 

Samuel Crosby, Closes Brackett, 

Elisha Glover, Aun Quincy, 

Lemuel Billings, Sam'l Bass, 

David I?ass, John Pray, 

Thomas Pratt, Ebenz. Crane, 

Jo.seph Field, Jos. Bass, 2d, 

Henry T. Gay, Caleb Hayden, 

Peter Burrell, Benj. Bass, 

Joseph Brackett, John Hall, 

WiJ.son Mar.sh, Jr., Daniel Baxter, 

William Sanders, Peter B. Adams, 

Henry Hartwick, Jona. Bas.s, 

Bcnj. Cleverly, Fred'k Hartwick, 

John Cleverly, Thomas Bass, 

Samuel Clark, Daniel Hollis, 

James Field, Ebenz. V. Gay, 

"The undersigned are the inhabitants of Dorchester, on the south side of 
Neponset river: — 

Benj. Beale, John Billings, Josiali Glover, 

Jo.sejih Beale, Ebenz. Glover. 

" The uiulersigucd are the inhabitants of the Town of ISIilton: — 

Cliarles Pierce, Dyar Kawson, Wm. Pierce, Jr., 

Ijauncclot Pierce, Bartholomew Pierce, Lcnuiel Adams, 

Wm. Pierce, John Pierce, Hannah Rowc. 

" Tlie undersigned arc tlie inhabitants of the Middle Precinct of Braintree, 
called Knight's Neck, viz. :— 

libenezer Newcomb, Samuel Newconib, Stephen Pandall, 

Francis Newcomb, Oliver Newcomb, Thomas Newcomb, 

Elijah Belcher, Jr. 



Joseph Bass, 
Joseph Hunt, 
Eben Newcomb, Jr. 
Joseph Baxter, 
Nath. Blanchard, 
Elisha Turner, 
Neddy Curtis, 
Eben Field, 
Benj. Field, 
Wra. Field, 
Jackson Field, 
Samuel Bass, 2d, 
John Copeland, 
Enock Horton, 
Jos. Nightingale, 
John Nightingale, 
Eben Nightingale, 
Sam'l Nightingale, 
Dan. Nightingale, 
Eben. Adams, Jr., 
Josiah Adams, 
Benj. Adams, 
Benj. Savill, 
James Howard, 
Jo.seph Tirrell, 
Samuel Savill, 
Mathew Pratt, 
Fred. Hartwick. Jr., 



IXCORPORATION OF QUIXCY. 61 

The General Court seems to have considered tlie peti- 
tioners' reasons of sufficient weight, and their argument 
conclusive, as on the twenty-third of Feliruary, 1792, an 
act was passed by the Legislature, granting the i)eti- 
tioners an act of incorporation as an independent township.^ 

The official sanction subscribed to this instrument for her 
becoming an independent municijKdity, was given by her hon- 
ored and illustrious son, John Hancock, then Governor of the 
State. 

[fOMMON WEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.] 

In the Senate, Jan. 28th, 1791. 

" On the petition of Peter Rrackett, Eben. Miller and one humlred and twenty- 
seven other persons of the North Precinct of Braintree; Benjamin Beale and 
four other inhabitants of that part of Dorchester wliich lies north of Neponset 
River; Charles Pierce and eij;ht other inhabitants of Milton; and of Ebenezer 
Newconib and six other inhabitants of that part of Braintree called Knight's 
Neck, praying to be incorporated into a distinct town." 

1. An act for incorjjorating the North Precinct of the Town of.Braintree, in the 
County of Suffolk, into a separate town by the name of Quincy, and for 
annexing sundry inhabitants of the town of Dorchester, with their estates, to 
the said Town of Quincy : 

Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General 
Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the lands comprised 
within the North Precinct of the Town of Braintree, as the same is now bound- 
cil, with the inhabitants dwelling thereon, be and they hereby are incorporated 
into a town by the name of Quincy, and the said town is hereby invested with 
all the powers, privileges and immunities to which Towns within this Common- 
wealth are or may be entitled, agreeable to the constitution and laws of the said 
Commonwealth. 

Sect. 2. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the inhabi- 
tants of the said Town of Quincy .shall pay all the arrears of taxes which have 
been assessed upon thoni by the Town of Braintree, and shall support any poor 
person or persons who have heretofore been or now are inhabitant of that part 
of Braintree which is hereby incorporated, and are or may become chargeable, 
and who shall not have obtained a Settlement elsewhere when they niay become 
chargeable; and such poor person or persons may be returned to the Town of 
(Juincy in the same way and manner that paupers may by law be returned to 
the Town or district in which they belong. And the inhabitants of the said 
Town of Quincy shall pay their i>roportion of all debts now due from the 
said Town of Braintree, and .shall be cnlitlwl to receive their proportion of all 
debts and monies now due to the said Town ot Ikaiutree, and also their propor- 
tionable part of all the other property of the said Town of Braintree, of what 
kind or description. 



62 INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 

The municiijal organization of the town of Qnincy at this 
time, was at an important ejDOch in the country's history, as the 
old civil and ecclesiastical customs and usages, Avhich had gov- 
erned the colonies and province for nearly two centuries, were 
fast passing away, and a newer, higher, and nobler civilizatipn 
was rajiidly emerging from darkness into light. Church and 
State Avere in the last decade of their existence, and contin- 
tinued to languish in this town until 1824, when the final 
separation of town and church was consummated. The Rev. 
Peter Whitney, in 1800, was the last minister ordained under 
the old. regime, and the Rev. William Parsons Lunt, D. D., 
Avas the first minister ordained under the new. The begin- 
ning of the tOAvn as an independent organization Avas nearly 

Sect. 3. Provided always that the lands belonging to the said Town of 
Braintree, for the purpose of maintaining schools, shall he divided between the 
said Town of Braintree and the Town of Qnincy in the same proportion as they 
were respectively assessed for the payment of the last State tax, and no Town 
tax shall be laid by either of the said Townes upon the said lands so long as 
the rents thereof shall be appropriated to the purpose of supporting a school or 
schools. 

Sect. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Benja- 
m.in Beale, Jr., Joseph Beale, John Billings, Eben Glover, Josiah GloA'er, 
inhabitants of that part of the Town of Dorchester, in said County of Suffolk, 
called Squantum and the Farms, with their lands and estates lying within the 
limits of Dorchester, called Squantum and the Farms, be and they hereby are 
set off from the said Town of Dorchester and annexed to the said Town of 
Quincy. 

Sect. 5. And be it further enacted, That the said Benjamin Beale, Jr. 
Joseph Beale, John Billings, Eben Glover, and Josiah Glover, shall pay all the 
arrears of taxes which have been asses.sed upon them by the Town of Dorches- 
ter, togethc r with all the expenses of maintaining the widow, descendants, or 
any part of the family of Thomas Wells, late of said Dorchester, deceased, which 
are or may become chargeable as the poor of the Town of Dorchester, and shall 
not be held to pay any other expenses whatever to the said Town of Dorchester. 

Sect. (>. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Richard 
Cranch, Esq., be and he is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, directed to 
some principal inhabitant, requiring him to warn and give notice to the inhab- 
itants of said Town of Quincy, to assemble and meet at some suitable time and 
place in the said Town, as soon as conveniently may be, to choose all such 
officers as towns are required to choose at their annual Town Meetings, in the 
month of March or April annually. 

This act passed February 22d, 1792. 

Signed by JOHN HANCOCK, Governor. 



IXCOKrOltATION OP QUINCY. G3 

coeval witli tlie formation of tlie National and State Govern- 
ments, and tliey have continued to progress together in harmony 
and prosperity, until nearly a century of their existence lias been 
completed. 

The person selected to give a name to the town was Rev. 
Anthony Wibird, then the minister of the First Church, but Mr. 
Wibird declined, and the Hon. Richard Cranch was then re- 
quested to furnish a name for the place, who recommended its 
being called Quincy, in honor of Col. John Quincy, which was 
accepted. This was not fully satisfactory to the people, as the 
inhabitants called a public meeting on May 14th, 1792, to see if 
the town would petition the General Court to have the name 
altered or changed to some other. After a candid and somewhat 
exciting discussion whether Hancock or Quincy should be the 
name, it was by a close vote decided that it should continue to 
be called by the name of Quincy. 

No better description can be given of the natural scenery 
of the town, than the following by the eccentric sovereign of 
Merry Mount. In vicAving with admiration the beauties of nature 
from his rude castle, which is said to have been located on the 
Mount, near the lone, barren savin tree, which has for ages with- 
stood the blasting storms as the only living emblem of the past, 
Morton gives the following poetical and truthful picture of the 
natural scenery of our beautiful village, before the white man's 
hand had adorned it by art and cultivation : 

"In the month of June, 1622," he says in his New England 
Canaan, " it was my chance to arrive in the parts of New Eng- 
land, Avith thirty servants, and provision of all sorts fit for a 
])lantation ; and while our houses were building, I did endeavor 
to take a survey of the country. The more I looked the more I 
liked it. 

" And when I had more seriously considered the beauty of the 
jilace, with all her fair endowments, I did not ihhik that in all 
the known world it could be i)aralleled. For so many goo.lly 
groves of trees, dainty, fine, round, rising hillocks, delicate, fair, 
largi' ])lains, sweet, crystal fountains, and clear running streams, 
that twine in fine meanders through the meads, making so sweet 
a murmuring noise to hear, as would even lull the senses with 



04 INCOilPOUATlON OK iJUlNcV. 

(li'liij;lit ;isUh'1>, so ploasaiitly ilo tln'V yTnU' u|ioii (hi' ]n'l)liU'-sloiu's, 
ji'ttinti most j*)cniii(lly wheiv tlioy <lo nu'ct, ami liaiul-iii-liaml 
run ilowii to Noptuno's oourt, to pay tlio yearly trilmto wliicli 
tlu'y owr to him, as sovereign Lord of all tho s|)rinos. (\>n- 
tiiinod within the volume of the land, fowls in abundance, fish in 
multitudes; and discovered besides, millions of turtle doves on 
the »;reen boughs, which sat peeking of the full, ripe, pleasant 
grapes, that were supported by the lusty trees, whose fruitful 
load did cause the arms to bend ; while here antl there dispersed 
you might sei' lillies, and oi the Daphnean tree,^ which made 
the l.uid to me seem Taradisc. For in u\ine eye 'twas Nature's 
masterpiece, her chiefest maga/iiu' of all, where lives her stori". 
If this land be not rich, then is (he whole world poor." 

In ISOO the in^judation of the town was oidy 1,(»S1, piiiu-ipally 
fanners, quite jioor and siu\ple in tlu'ir habits; but by iiuluslry 
and fr\igality in their agricultural i)ursui(s, they weri' enabled (o 
make a comfortable living. Their luunes were hives of industry, 
and (he music of thi' s])inuiug-wlu'el - w:is heai-d from t'nrly 

1. ]>ii[>tnienn tree; laurel or buy tree. In Mythology Daphne, a nymph tlyinj; 
troin Ajxilio, was supposed to have Iwen turned into a l>av or l;>ini>l tivc, 

'.'. Aliout 1718 the foot or linen wheel, formerly so familiar in the luMisi'hoMs 
of New Kufiland, was introduced by a colony of Sootili- Irish emigrants. IMio 
uuinufai'ture of linen eloth was considered of jjreat importauco to the coinitry. 
The people of l?oston and neij;hl)orliood took hold of the matter with jjreat 
earnestness and enthusiasm. A town meetiiiu; was callod, and .Indue Sewall 
l)residiHl as Modorator, for the i>urpo.><e of decidinj; on the expodionoy of estah- 
lishiuy; Si>inniiij^ Siliools. The result was the erection of a larj;e, hand.some 
brick buildiu}; fi>r the purpose, on the east side of Lonj; Acres, (now Tren\ont 
street,) near the pivsent Hamilton Place. On llu> front of the buildinji was 
placed a llguro of a wouum holdinji a distalT, as emblematic of its futiu'c use. 
An act was passed by the General Assembly, taxing carriages and other luxu- 
ries for the support of these schools. Spinning wheels were the hobby horses of 
the puldii'. The enthusiasm ran so high that the females of the town, rich and 
l>oor, gathered in cri>\vds on the l'omnuu\, with their wheels, and vied with each 
otlu>r in the dexterity of using tliem. l<\)r the times, probably a larger con- 
course of i)cople never was drawn together. The yearly anniversary of this 
institution was celebrated l»y the trustees and comj)auy attending jiulvlic wor- 
ship, when a sermon was delivered snitetl to the occasion, and a contribution 
nuide to aid the business. For some years it was si)iritedly conducted, l)ut as 
soon ns the oxoitoment died out the institution went with it. History, in this 
case, like nuiny others, repeats itself, showing that the Yankee characteristic 
of overdoing many things they undertake was as rife at that time as at the 
present day. 



I.VrOia'OUATION OF <iUI.VCV. 05 

inoin till late at ni«ilit, t'aUiicat'mg tlicir old-fasliioiu'd, substan- 
tial, li(tnu'-sjiun il(»tli, wliic-li amply iirotectt-d them from the 
chilliiiLj blasts ot' our eultl northein winters. Tlie wealth of 
the ])eoi)le was eliieHy invested in their farms, liouses, stoek and 
grain. The system of trade at this time was barter, the jjeoplc 
exehamjinu; tlieir agrieultural jtroduetions for groceries, dry 
goods, and other necessaries of life. Money was scarce and 
hard to get, as the revolutionary war and <le))reciated j»a]>er 
currency liad left its ruinous and financial trouble iijton a de- 
pleted and nearly bankrupt community. 

Their amusements were few, but highly enjoyed. Esj)ecially 
did they look forward with great pleasure to the autumn husk- 
ings, which, to them, was the merry festival of tlie yeai-. Even 
to tins day, elderly peojde relate with a great deal of zest the 
great pleasure and enjoyment they derived from the cheerful, 
sentimental songs and inerry dances of tlie husking ))arties, con- 
sidering them much superior to all modern amusements. 

"Farewell the pleasant huskin"; night, it's merry after scenes, 
^VlleIl puiniikiii-pies are placed beside the giant pot of beans ; 
When ladies ji>iued the social band, nor once affected fear, 
But gave a pretty cheek to kiss, for every crimson ear ! " 

During the ])rocess of husking, if a red ear of corn was found 
by any one of the ladies, she was liable to receive a kiss from 
some of the company. 

The surface of tlie town is diversified by hills, valleys and 
plains. Back from the bay some three miles is a range of 
elevated land, which, in some parts, is more than six hundred 
feet above the sea. These hills contain an inexhaustible su|»ply 
of syenite. Tlie height of Quincy, near the centre of tlie village, 
is two hundred and ten feet above the sea; (4reat Ilill ninety- 
four feet, and Scpiantum ninety-nine feet. 

(Jnincy is bounded on the northeast by Quincy Ray and Bos- 
ton IIarl>or; on the south by Weymouth, Braintrce and Ban- 
dolpli; and on the northwest by Milton and Boston. In ter- 
ritory it contains thirteen and one-half square miles. 

The soil of the town is generally of an excellent (piality, and 
under fair cultivation. There are a number of line, large and 
well cultivated farms ; still, with all the skill, judicious and eco- 

10 



66 IXCOEFORATIOX OF t^UINCY, 

nomical nianagemeut, they are far from being profitable. Those 
who conduct milk farms reaj) a larger and more satisfactory 
financial income. 

The means of travel and transportation of merchandise to 
and from Boston and other places at the time of its incorpora- 
tion, were very limited. Those living on the sea-coast usually 
went by water ; others, living more inland, slung their panniers 
across their backs and accomplished their journey on foot; while 
the more wealthy, or those able to own horses, either travelled 
on horseback or in their carriages. There weie in the town 
about a dozen one-horse chaises, cumbrous and antiquated in 
their construction and mechanical execution. We have heard 
elderly people relate how they used to sling their panniers 
across their horse's back or their own shoulders, and fill 
them with boots, shoes, or other merchandise, and travel off to 
Boston, and there exchange their goods for groceries or housc- 
keejiing materials, and return home the same day. Some quar- 
ter of a century after this, stage-coaches and omnibusses were 
established. 

The roads were few and poorly constructed, or not constructed 
at all. Franklin, School, Hancock and Adams streets comprise 
what was then the Plymouth Turnpike,^ passing over Milton 
Hill, the only thoroughfare to Boston at that time. Elm street 
commenced at Hancock, passing by where the Universalist 
Church now stands, and connected with Sea (now Canal) street 

1. " The laying out and locating the old Plymouth Road was a source of great 
annoyance and trouble. Committee after committee was appointed, without 
coming to any definite result. It was eight or nine years in controversy before 
its final settlement. 

"We find that in 1C41, June 2d, a committee was chosen, consisting of Mr. 
John Glover and Humphrey Atherton, who were authorized to lay out a public 
highway. After having A'iewed the premises and decided upon its location, 
they reported their decision to the town. Their report not being satisfactory to 
its inhabitants, another committee was appointed the 7tli of October, KMl, con- 
sisting of Mr. Peck, Mr. Parker, Goodnum Bate and Stephen Paine, who wma 
instructed to view the way and certify the same to the General Court. Their 
effort, it appears, to relieve tlie public of this vexatious (juestion, was unsatis- 
factory, as in l()4;i Mr. Parker, INIr. John Glover, and Goodman IJate were re- 
appointed to settle this highway at Braiutree. Their results, it seems, were not 
agreeable to the wishes of tlie town, as i u September, 1643, a committee of the 



INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 67 

by passings over the canal (then a brook) on ste])]>ing-stones. 
South street led to Knight's Neck ami Bent's Point. Sea street 
was at a very early period laid out one-and-a-half rods wide to 
(iermantown and Hough's Neck. Gates and bars obstructed 
this road for a long time. After long contentions for years in 
town meetings, these gates and bars were removed in ISOS, by a 
mutual agreement of the town and all j)arties concerned. This 
was brought about by the untiring exertions of the Hon. Thomas 
(4reeideaf. 

Miller's stile, so-called, connected Elm street with Sea (lujw 
Canal), and was laid out as early as 1655, viz: — 

'' 11th, 12th m., 1655. Uj)on the same day there is laid out a 

town made the following report in opposition to the report made by the commit- 
tee appointed by the General Court, viz: — 

"It is conceived by those that are appointed to lay out the way between 
Weymouth and Braintree, that the way without the ffields at Monaticnt is con- 
ceived to be nearer and more comfortable, and not so troublesome to the country 
in regard to i)utting up and down the rayles, neth'r will so much damage re- 
dound to the inhabitants in regard of spoyling their corn, as formerly it hath 
been. 

" Moses Paink, Robeut Maktin, 

Edward B., n Martin Sanders." 

Mass. Rec, Vol. II., p. 40. 

"This ([uestion continued to be agitated until 1G4S, when the matter was 
finally agreed upon and settled by the following committee, viz: — 

"Agreed this 25th, 12th month, 1648, between Thomas Holbrook, Henry 
Kingman and Nathaniel Adams, a committee of Waymouth, and Stephen 
Kingslj' and Samuel Bass, a committee of Braintree, for laying out of the high- 
way for the country from Waymouth to Dorchester, that the said country high- 
way shall lye the pr[ent] wonted highway from Waymouth to I?raintree meeting 
liou.se, four rods wide; and whereas at the said nieeting-liou.se the way cannot 
be conveniently had at one end thereof, we appoint the said way to run .so as to 
be two rods at one end of the said meeting-house, and two rods at the other 
end, and so to fall at foure rods againe at a markt stump a little beyond the sai<l 
meeting-house; and so that breadth to a stump of a tree neer Henry Neale's 
house; and thence be carried the said breadth to the lot called Hudson's lot, 
rectifying the way wh'ch now is by takeing it of through sev.erall necks, a.s we 
have markt the same out; and through the said Hudson's lot the same breadth 
Id the hill going downe towards the brooke; and thence till tenn poles beyond 
the brooke, six poles wide; and then to lye foure rod wyde unto Dorchester 
bounds, and all as we have already set out the same by severall marks for that 
purpose. And this we p'sent to the honored Co'rte, to be recorded for the 
country highway forever. Consented to." — Mass. Col. Hec, Vol. 11., p. 271. 



68 INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 

foot-way to by from the rock by George Ruggles, straight over 
the fresh brook in the eonvenientest place, and so straight along 
by the foreside of Francis Elliott's barn, and so straight over his 
lot in the eonvenientest place, and so to the end of the highway 
tliat goes up by Mr. Flynt's." 

A zig-zag sort of a way to Squantum,^ which Avas closed when 
the Neponset Turnpike was opened. 

Common street in West Quincy, and a few cart-paths into the 
North and South Commons, were all the remaining thorough- 
fares of any account at the time the tOAvn was incorporated. 

At that time scarcely fifteen hundred people travelled to and 
from Quincy ^nd Boston ; now the railroad conveys more than 
half a million passengers. 

At the beginning of this century the business interests of the 
eastern and southeastern parts of the State demanded a more 
direct and shorter route to Boston, To accomplish this, in 1802, 
Benjamin Beale, Moses Black, John Davis, John Billings, and 
Josiah Quincy petitioned the Legislature for an act of incorjiora- 
tion to build a bridge over and across the Nej^onset river, from 
Preston's point in Dorchester (now Ward twenty-four, Boston,) 
to Billings' Rock in the town of "Quincy,^ which act was granted 

1. Previous to the incorporation of the Neponset Turnpike, the Farms road, 
as it was alwajs called at that time, commenced at President's bridge, on 
Adams street, and ran in an easterly direction ; then turned at a right angle, 
crossed the brook, and went up the hill ou the ridge on the easterly side of the 
turnpike, where the remains of said road may still be seen; then crossed to the 
westerly side, passing over the land on which the house of the late Nathaniel 
M. Bean, on Hancock street, now stands; then turned a right angle near 
where the Horse Railroad stables formerly stood ; thence passing in a straight 
course towards the Bay until it came to Mr. Quincy's land; then turning a right 
angle again, passing by Mr. Quincy's gate, and crossing the turnpike, passed 
the northeast end of the swamp, crossing Stand Brook and passing the house of 
Dr. Wilson, which has been taken down, but was located nearly opposite the 
house of Kdmund B. Taylor, near the swamp, and also the house now in pos- 
session of the heirs of John Glover; then came into the road leading from 
Squantum to Milton. 

2. This note relates to the several bridges and ferries that have been estab- 
lished, as a communication between Quincy and Dorchester, over Neponset 
river. Also the tirst ferry over ^lonatiquot river. 

We find that the first effort to establish a ferry over Neponset river, for the 
purjjosc of opening communication between Boston and the Mount, was Sep- 



INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 69 

March 11th, 1802. The former petitioners of the "Ncponsite 
Bridge Corporation," not lieing satisfied with the locatioji of tlic 
l>ri(l<;e tinder their act of incor])Oration, sent a second ])etition to 
tlic Legishiture in 1803, to liave the location changed, and that 

tomber 3d, 1035. The General Court ordered tliat John Holland should keep a 
ferry between Capt. Poynte, now Connnercial Point, and Mr. Ncwbcrry'.s Creek, 
now Billing.s Creek. " He was to receive four pence for each pa.ssenger, and 
threepence if there were two or more." Thi.s, not being a paying busincs.*?, and 
as Mr. Holland could do better at navigation he soon gave- it up. One hundred 
and .sixty-seven years after, the Neponset Bridge Company received a charter 
to construct a bridge in the same place, but as we have before stated, it was 
changed to its present location. 

This Ferry having been given up, the General Court the fith of September, 
1(538, ordered that another one .should be opened, and appointed Bray Wilkins 
to act as ferryman; under the direction of Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Glover, he 
was to receive one penny a person. 

This ancient ferry was from the ridge in Quincy to Sling Point in Dorchester, 
about half way between the Neponset and Granite bridges. Afterwards Penny 
Ferry was in the same vicinity, the relics of which can be seen to this day.— 
The following statement in reference to Penny Ferry, is taken from the Quincy 
Patriot, December 25th, 1875 : 

"In 1823, ex-President John Adams was asked whether Judge Edmund 
Quincy of Braintree, went to Boston over Milton Hill? He replied, 'No, 
Judge Quincy would have thought it unsafe to venture as far inland as 
Milton Hill, for fear of the Indians; he was accustomed to go to Boston by the 
way of Penny's Ferry;'— a ferry so called because passengers paid a penny a 
piece to be' rowed over the Neponset." 

At what time Penny ferry was discontinued, we have not been able to find 
out; in all probability its business was of an occasional nature, and it must 
have proved a financial failure, as being located over a tidal river, it would de- 
lay travellers more or less in waiting for the tide to get at its proper lieight to 
ferry them across. It would have been as convenient, if not more so, to have 
taken the regular road over the bridge at Milton Mills to Boston. 

This ferry, while it existed, was evidently a continuation of Glover's Ferry. 

In 1048, it was ordered that no ferrynnxn should bo compelled to put out his 
boat until the ferryage Avas paid, and that the ferryman might refuse any AVam- 
pum not "stringed," or unmerchantable. 

This year, 1(>48, the Court was informed that no ferry existed for the accom- 
modation of the public to cross the Neponset river, and issued the following 
order : 

" May, l(i48. Vppon certayne informatio giuen to this Court that there is no 
ferric kept ouer Nepon.set Kiver betweene Dorchester and Brauntry, whereby 
all that are to pas.se that way are enforced to head the riuer, to the great preju- 
dice of those townes thereabouts, and that there yet appeares no ma that will 
keepe it vnle.ss he may be accommodated with hous, laud and a boat, at the 
charge of the country, its therefore ordered by the authoritie of this court. 



70 INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 

they might he authorized to construct a l)ridge across the Ne- 
jjonset river at a place called Horse Hommock, in said town of 
Quincy, and to lay out and make a road from the meeting-house 
in Quincy (this meeting-house is now the Stone Temple) to said 
bridge. 

The Legislature, after due consideration, was of an opinion 
that this change would better facilitate and accommodate the 
]i)ublic travel. In accordance with these views, they granted the 
"Neponset Bridge Company" a new charter, changing the loca- 

that INIr. Jon Glour .shall and hereby hath full powre giuen him, either to 
graunt it to any p'sou or p'-sons for the ternie of 7 years, so it he not charg.able to 
the countr3', or else to take it to hiniselfe and his heires as his owne inheritanc 
for ever, p'vided that it be kept in such a place and at such a price as may be 
most convenient for the country and pleasinge to the gennall court."— Mass. 
liec. Vol. HI., p. 128. . 

The tirst mention of a bridge over the Neponset river was in 1G52, when the 
town of Dorchester was fined five pounds for not erecting a bridge over this 
river, and the fine was to be remitted provided the bridge was bnilt according 
to law within three mouths. 

The Court ordered that as the river bed was hard and passable for horse and 
cart, that Mrs. Stonghtou might be discharged by making a good foot bridge 
with a "good rayle." 

This bridge was cheaply constructed and of a temporarj' nature, as three 
years after, in 1655, a complaint was made to the court that this bridge was 
wholly ruined and unsafe for public travel. 

"2.3d May, ICmo. This Court having ordered that all bridges in country high- 
waycs, as need shall be, shall, from time to time, be made and mayntayned bj' 
each county- in which they are, and that the bridge at Neponsit Riuer is wholely 
ruined and that there is, as is aleaged, a necessity of a cart bridge oner that 
riuor in soiv.e place neere Mrs. Stoughton's mill, which, if deferred, cannot be 
made vp b 'fore winter which, if it should not be, would be very dangerous to 
man and b- ast, it is therefore ordered, that Capt. Luchas, Capt. Savage, Mr. 
Collicott, iMr. Win. Parkes, Thomas Dyer and Deacon Bass, or the major 
l)'t of them, arc appoynted a committee to consider and determine whether to 
erect a bridge there, and if so, then to agree with workmen for the same, and to 
returne the same to the next County Court, who shall ]/ portion the charg ac- 
cording to law." — Mass. Rec, Vol. III., p. .'iTii. 

This Avas the original County bridge, over which the old Plymouth turnpike 
passed, aiul was the principal thoroughfare to Boston before the Neponset 
turnpike was established. 

The rapid increa.se of the stone business had so multiplied and increa.sed the 
inhabitants of West Quincv and East Milton, that they demanded a more con- 
venient and direct communication with Boston than the old way, and to re- 
lieve this urgent necessity, the General ('ourt granted a charter for a new bridge 



INCOKl'OUATION OF tjLINTV. 71 

tion fiom l'ivstt)irs Point, now ConinuTciiil 'I'oint, to Horse 
Horamock, :is tlu' iirayer of tlic i»c'titioners (U'siivd. 

The coini):iny then made satisfaetory arrangements with the 
town in referenee to tlie ohl way to Squantum, they i)ermitting 
them to Uikv wliatever portion of tlie old road tliat was needed 
to complete tlie new. From that time to tiiis it has been the 
principal thoroughfare to Boston. 

The cost of this turniuke and bridge, as reported to the 
State, was 684,000, including all land jiurchases. The amount 
of receipts from October 28th, 1803, to ])cceml)er 31st, 1841, was 
8197,878; disbursements in the same given period, !5;r)2,(;(K;; 
making the balance of net proceeds, $145,272. A very good re- 
turn to the stockholders of this successful turnpike cori)oration. 

The State enacted a law. May 2Gth, 1857, for the Counly 
Commissioners to lay out the Nei>onset and Weymouth turn- 
pikes, for the purpose of having them opened to the public as 
free and common higliways. 

The Braintree and AVeyniouth Turni)ike Company received 
their act of incorporation March 4th, 1803. 

The Quincy and Hingham Bridge and Turnpike Corjmration 
was incorporated March 5th, 1808, but was not opened until 
about 1812. 

These turnpikes demanded toll of all wdio passed over them, 
which made travelling to and from Boston quite expensive. 

When tlie Old Colony Railroad was established it seriously 
interfered with the financial income of the Turn])ike Cor]..)ra- 
tions, so much so that several years after the railroad had been 
in operation tliey were dissolved. 

In 1845 the Old Colony Railroad was opened for general 
business, which greatly changed the social and material character 



over NepoiKsot Kiver, which was cuiistnicto.l in ]«;«!, an.l callo.l fli(. firaiiite 
I!ii(I^jo, altlunijih built of wood. 

Thi.s ferry wa.s the first coniraunicatiou established betweon WcvmoiUli an.l 
Hraintree over tlie Monati(|i.ot river. As early as l(i3o, a ferry' was esfib- 
lishcd between Weymouth and Hraintree, vi/.:-" Thomas Appk-ato wis li- 
rense,l to keepe a fferey betwixte We.s.sajjuscus and Mount \\-oliaston. lur whi.l, 
hee IS to have Id for every p'.son and ;!d a horse." 

ThLs ferry was at East IJraintrue, and connected with the old road over I'ei 
Hill. 



n s 



72 INCOEPORATION OF QUINCY. 

and interests of* the town. The effort to locate the termmus of 
tliis raih-oad in Quincy, by some of her progressive citizens, was 
not accomplislied ; as an opposition, influenced by the livery- 
stable keepers and the proprietors of the stage coach line, was 
too powerful and voted it down. It is somewhat amusing to see 
how great and important improvements are defeated by such 
fallacious and sophisticated arguments as were used on this occa- 
sion. The -whole sum and substance of their reasoning was : 
That there would be no further use for horses, and the business 
of the town would be ruined. There has seldom, if ever, been 
a time, since the Old Colony Railroad was established, that there 
has not been a greater demand for horses than before this impor- 
tant improvement was contemplated. Keal estate has rapidly 
advanced in value, rents are higher, stores have increased in 
number, and the population of the town has nearly trebled. 

In 1855, James Bradford, Isaiah G. Whiton, Hiram Prior, 
Naaman B. Holmes, Levi W. Moody, and George Thomas, re- 
ceived an act of incorporation as the Quincy Point and German- 
town Ferry Company, with a capital of twenty-five thousand 
dollars, to run between Quincy Point and Germantown. This 
ferry was established soon after the above gentlemen received 
their act of incorporation. After a few years, not proving a 
financial success, it was discontinued, 

A few public-spirited persons of the town, Wm. S. Morton, 
John J. Glover, and Robert B. Leuchars, petitioned the Legisla- 
ture for an act of incorporation to establish a Horse Railroad, 
The company was granted an act of incorporation February 
15th, 1861. This road was soon constructed, and extended from 
the foot of Penn's Hill to Field's Corner, in Ward twenty-four, 
Boston. At this place it connected "with the Metropolitan 
Railroad. This'was a cheap and pleasant method of conveyance 
for our citizens, between this town and the city, and a great 
convenience in getting to various parts of the town on the line 
of the road. 

The company ])urchased two steam or dummy engines at great 
expense, which proved successful as far as locomotion was con- 
cerned. The expense of running these was so much greater 
than liorse power, that they were finally abandoned. This was 



INCORPORATION OF QUINOV. 73 

a costly experiment for the company, which caused tliem to be- 
come embarrassed, and finally to discontinue the road. Up to 
the time of this unfortunate cxpi-rinient they had transacted a 
very successful business. 

In 1854, Henry II. Faxon, John Faxon, and Robert Morse 
received an act of incor])oration, by ihe name of the Quincy 
Gas-Light Company, with the privilege of holding real estate to 
the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, and the whole 
capital stock not to exceed one hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars. This attempt to establish a gas company in Quincy, 
from various causes, proved a failure.' Subsequently another 
effort was made by the following gentlemen, which proved more 
successful : 

Daniel P. Nye, F. M. Johnson, and Eleazer Frederick, in 
1860, applied to the Legislature for an act of incorporation for 
the purpose of manufacturing and selling of gas in the town of 
Quincy. 

This company was incorporated February 24th, 1860, by the 
name of the Citizens' Gas-Light Company. At first, some time 
Avas spent in experimenting with different materials, to see if gas 
could be manufactured cheaper or better than by the ordinary 
method of production from coal. It was found that it could not 
be more economically produced, and the old system of making 
gas had to be adopted. The streets were soon }»iped, and the 
citizens of the town then had the pleasure of lighting their com- 
fortable homes with gas. The streets were not .lighted until 
seven years after the company was established. In 1867 the 
town agreed to pay for the gas and lighting of the street lamps 
for every person who would erect a lamp-post and lantern at 
their own expense, at certain distances apart. As lighting the 
streets with coal gas had become quite expensive, the town, in 
1874, to try the exjjeriment in cheapening this light, had the 
street lamps lighted with naptha gas, which was continued for 
two years, when the Gas-Light Comjjany reduced their prices, 
and June 9th, 1876, lighting the streets with coal gas was 
resumed. 

The first action taken by the inhabitants of old Braintree for 
her protection from the ravages of fire was in 1641, 10th month, 
11 



74 INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 

19th day, when the following i^ersons assembled in town meet- 
ing : — Samuel Bass, John Albee, Stephen Kinsly, Martin Sanders, 
Thomas Matson, Thomas Flatman, and Peter Brackett. At this 
meeting they passed an order that every householder in the town 
should, by the first day of March, have a ladder to stand up 
against the chimney of his house, to secure them and the town 
from fire. In neglect of this order they were to pay such a pen- 
alty as the town might impose on them. 

Immediately after the separation of the town fi'om Braintree, 
its citizens formed a Fire Association, for the mutual protection 
of each other's projDcrty from the devastations of fire. They 
were provided with the primitive fire apparatus of the times ; 
buckets, ladders and fire-hooks. This was the first organized 
voluntary fire department in Quincy. 

This Association, during the war of 1812, found their facilities 
for extinguishing fires rather limited, and behind the times. 
To improve their condition they, by voluntary subscription, pur- 
chased a hand engine of the most improved construction for tliat 
day. 

This engine was without suction, and to make it effectual it 
became necessary to form a bucket company, for the purpose of 
supplying it with water at fires, by forming a line to the source 
of supply. At times it was found impossible to form a line, 
owing to the distance of the fire from the supply of water ; then 
the engine had to be taken to the water, filled, drawn back, to 
the fire, and pumped out, this process being repeated until the 
fire was extinguished. 

This was the first fire-engine owned in town. It was called the 
Columbia, and located on Hancock street, a short distance north 
of the Stone Temple. 

Not to be behind the Centre District, the South, some years 
after, formed a voluntary fire association and purchased a fire- 
engine, of similar construction to the Columbia, called the 
Adams ; it was stationed at first on School, afterwards on Frank- 
lin street. 

About 1826, the State passed a law exempting all persons who 
belonged to the fire departments from doing military duty. This 
caused a great accession to the ranks of the fire companies, as 



INCORPOEATION OF QUINCT. • 75 

many had become dissatisfied with military duty, preferring to 
acliieve heroic honors by fighting the fiery element rather than 
by a bloody conflict. 

This method of extinguishing fires proved inefficient and un- 
satisfactory, which caused private fire associations, in 1840, to pur- 
chase a suction engine called the Niagara, built by S. & E. Thay- 
er. It was the first engine of the kind ever owned in the town. 

In 1840, an effort was made by the inhabitants of the town to 
establish a fire department, to be under the control of a Board 
of Engineers. A committee was chosen for the purpose, who 
reported in its favor, and also recommended the following assess- 
ment to be made for the support of this organization : One new 

engine, $650.00 ; two hundred feet of leading hose, ; one 

hundred and twenty new buckets, $270.00, (buckets seem to have 
been of more account than hose ;) fire hooks and ladders, $50.00 ; 
repairing two old engines, $50.00 ; also an additional sum of 
$650.00 to pay the expenses of the fire dei^artment the year 
ensuing ; and to be under the control of a Chief Engineer. 

As unanimous as this report was by the committee, the town 
did not think it expedient to establish a fire organization at this 
time, and the question as to the adoption of the report was voted 
in the negative. 

This matter was delayed but a few years. February 9th, 1844, 
the town voted to purchase the Columbia and Niagara Engines 
of the volunteer fire association, by paying the debts of that 
organization. The amount paid for these two engines Avas 
$157.83. From 1844 can then be dated the first organization of 
a fire department under the control of the town. 

Later in 1844, an engine fever grew out of the Town House 
excitement, and three hand suction engines were voted to be 
purchased. All three were built this year, and came into 
town within a month or two of each other. The Vulture was 
stationed at the Point, the Tiger at South Quincy, and the 
Granite at West Quincy. 

The cost of constructing the Tiger and the Granite, by Hun- 
neman & Co., was $2,098.00. The town j.aid S. & E. Thayer, 
for the Vulture, $906.30. In 1845 they paid the balance due on 
the Vulture, of $150.00, making th« total cost $1,056.30. The 



76 INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 

Tiger and Granite Houses cost $1,018.30 ; the Vulture, $536.12. 
All three of these engines are still in active service, but have 
had their works somewhat remodeled and changed. 

The first Niagara was sold in 1857, and a more powerful one 
constructed by liunneman & Co., was p\irchased to supply its 
place. This engine, with the house and apparatus, was burnt 
on the 22d of January, 1876. This was the first engine ever 
burnt in town. 

The first act to establish a Fire Department in Quincy, was 
passed by the Legislature, April 8th, 1853. 

In 1845, the Granite Hook and Ladder Company petitioned 
the town to have their State and town tax abated for services 
rendered,^ which was referred to the Board of Engineers. This 
appears to have been the first Hook and Ladder Company estab- 
lished under the regular organized fire department. 

In 1856, a Hook and Ladder Company was established, a truck 
procured, and located on Canal street. 

In 1870, the Washington M. French Hose Company Avas 
formed, for the purpose of supplying the hand engines with a 
greater amount of hose, in case of fire, than they were able to 
take with them on their own carriages. 

In 1873, several of the citizens of the town made an attempt 
to purchase a steam pump by voluntary subscription. A pump 
was procured, but it was found that there were not funds enough 
subscribed to pay for it. An ajipeal was then made to the town 
for a sufficient amount of money to pay the balance. The 
town responded by voting at a special town meeting, held Octo- 
ber 19th, 1874, the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars to pay 
the outstanding bill, for which the town was to have absolute 
possession and control of the steam pump. This pump was 
located in Mr. Panton's currier shop, on Hancock street, beside 
the town brook, where an ample supply of water can always be 
j^rocured. This addition to the fire api)aratus of tlic town has 

1. Tlie Town Records appear to be wrong in reference to the Granite Hook 
and Ladder Conipaiij' liaving been at Quincy, as it was located in ^lilton, 
although some of its nieuibers resided in AVest Quincy, which most probably 
caused the niistalce, as it was the members in West Quincy wlio petitioned for 
3,batement of taxes, 



INCORPORATION OP QUINCT. 77 

proved to be a very efficient arm of the fire department, nearly 
equal to a first-class steam fire-engine within the range of two or 
tliree tliousand feet from where she is located. She would be 
of still greater advantage in protecting the property of the 
town from fire, if the streets were piped and hydrants attached, 
both as to efficiency and economy. 

In 1876, the town built a reservoir at Wollaston Heights, 
and also purchased a new chemical engine to protect this 
enterprising settlement from fires, which within a few years 
iiave occurred frequently. Large and ample reservoirs have 
been, from time to time, constructed in various parts of the 
town, for its better security in case of extensive conflagrations. 

The fire department, as now organized, is as efficient and 
active as any can be under the old hand-engine system. 

For two or three years past, the progressive citizens of the 
town have been very active in trying to have the town procure 
a steam fire engine, for the better protection of the town in case 
of a severe conflagration, but as yet have been unable to accom- 
plish this most desirable object. 

A radical change always meets with strong, and, in most cases, 
unreasonable opposition ; fire departments are not an exception, 
for no class of people are more tenacious of their organization 
than fire associations. So much so is this the case, that when 
Boston, in 1825, endeavored to make some change in the system 
of extinguishing fires by utilizing and making more efficient the 
engines then in use, by placing them, in case of fire, in line, con- 
necting one with the other, for the purpose of throwing a contin- 
uous stream of water upon the fire, — this the department 
refused to do. When the city authorities insisted upon it the 
companies decided to disband, so strong were their prejudices 
against this change. 

At this time Boston had fourteen fire engines, supplied with 
eight hundred feet of hose, being an allowance of about fifty 
feet to each engine. In 1865, tl;:- g"cat fire on Doane, Central, 
Broad and State streets occurred, Avhich clearly demonstrated to 
the citizens of Boston the inefliciency of the then existing sys- 
tem of extinguishing fires, as the folloAving statement, made at 
the time, will illustrate : 



78 INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. ^ 

" The scene, on this occasion, was one of extreme embarrass- 
ment and confusion. The lines, formed by the firewards with 
great difficulty, were soon broken or deserted, and great dej^re- 
dations were committed on property brought forth indiscrimi- 
nately, and left uni^rotected in the streets. The engines were 
dragged one thousand feet to the docks, and half the water 
obtained was lost before they could be dragged back again, and 
put in operation." 

Out of this disaster, after a long and severe struggle, grew a 
more efficient system ; for the city purchased two engines of 
approved power — one in New York and one in Philadelphia — 
and a Hydraulicon, which Avas a small engine with one chamber, 
used for forcing water through hose as a supply to the other 
engines. From this they passed to suction engines, and then to 
steam. 

Steam engines were first used, in London, in 1830, at the fire 
of the Argyle Rooms. 

At this period an engine was manufactured for the King of 
Prussia, that threw about 61 3-4 tons of Avater per minute. 

The first seamless hose was woven in 1720, at Leipsic, After 
this they were made by Erka, a linen weaver of Weimar ; and 
at a later period they were made of linen at Dresden. 

Hose or pipes of a primitive kind for conveying water, were, 
however, not entirely unknown to the ancients. At least the 
architect Appollodorus says : "That to convey water to high 
places exposed to fiery darts, the gut of an ox, having a bag 
filled wi h water affixed to it, might be employed, for on com- 
pressing the bag, water would be forced up through the gut to 
the place of destination." 

The first town clock ever owned by the town of Quincy, was 
presented by Mr, Daniel Greenleaf, in 1844. In consideration of 
this gift the town appropriated fifty-one dollars to defray the ex- 
pense of providing a place for it in the tower of the Stone 
Temple, where it remained until 1869, when the citizens of 
Quincy, desiring a more accurate time-kee])er, voted to purchase 
the present one,- at a cost of 1581.49; painting, gilding and 
placing it in the tower, 1200.54 ; making the total cost, #782.03. 

The first Centennial, in commemoration of the organization of 



INCORPORATION OF QUINCY. 79 

the First Church, was noticed by the delivery of two sermons 
by Rev. John Hancock, the pastor of the society, September 
16th, 1739. They were published in 1739 ; also reprinted in 1811. 

The second anniversary was commemorated in 1839 by two 
sermons, preached by Rev. William Parsons Lunt, D. 1). These 
interesting sermons were published, and in the appendix a full 
historical account of the church was given. 

The first celebration of the incorporation of tlie town was 
held in 1840, in commemoration of its two hundredth anniver- 
sary. Considerable feeling and rivalry grew out of making 
arrangements for this public event, between the " Old Folks," so 
called, and the young men. The inhabitants of Randolph and 
Braintree had been invited fo take a jjart in making arrange- 
ments for this commemoration. They chose delegates for t\n>i. 
purpose, but on their meeting they could not agree, some desir- 
ing that it should be held in Braintree, others considered it more 
appropriate to hold it in Quincy ; the delegates not agreeing, 
the subject was given up, and Quincy had the honor of the cele- 
bration. 

In 1839 several town meetings were held, for the purpose of 
making suitable preparation for the proposed Centennial. Those 
who undertook it at this time were called " Old Folks." After 
a long delay, they not being able to make any satisfactory 
arrangements for the success of it, concluded to give it up. 
Upon this, the young men were determined that such an impor- 
tant event in the history of the town should not be passed by 
without some observance, and immediately called a meeting, 
chose a committee, who in a short time made all suitable ar- 
rangements for the celebration of this public event. 

The following extract, taken from the appendix of the printed 
address of Mr. Gregory, will more fully illustrate the spirit of 
the time : — 

"The young men of Quincy, seeing that the 'Old Folks' had 
failed, an<l possessing more zeal and enterprise, resolved to take 
up the subject, and celebrate the apj^roaching anniversaiy in 
a proper manner. 

" In the sj)ring of 1840, scarcely two months previous to the 
day, they commenced operations in the face of many obstacles 



80 INCOEPOEATION OF QUINCY. 

and discouragements ; but to their praise, be it said, they suc- 
ceeded beyond all expectations. It was a glorious day for them, 
and long will it be remembered, 

" The would-be conservators of everything of a public charac- 
ter in town (and who failed in getting up a celebration the fall 
before,) saw that the young men were likely to succeed and that 
it would place them in an unenviable light, in consequence of 
which many attempts were made to break up their arrangements. 

" Seeing that the Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., had accepted an 
invitation to preside as President of the Day, and that a large 
compatiy was expected from Boston and the regions roundabout, 
strong hints were thrown out that it would be well for the young 
men to appoint some one of the oraer citizens of Quincy to re- 
ceive them and manage affairs, as it was presumed that the 
young men were not capable of transacting the important busi- 
ness of the day, thus robbing the young men of all the glory of 
the occasion, and making them merely hewers of wood and 
drawers of water. 

" Secret caucuses were held in the village, to take into consid- 
eration the propriety of frustrating the arrangements of the 
young men, in relation to one of their speakers. An anonymous 
letter, signed ' G ' and mailed at Boston, (supposed by many to 
have originated in this town some dark night,) was laid be- 
fore this august body, and a committee appointed to wait upon 
the young men then in session, with instructions that if they 
persisted in having the address ^ delivered by the one of their 
choice, they could not have the use of the Stone Meeting- 
house." 

Notwithstanding all these threats and obstructions, the Stone 
Meeting-house was secured, and the oration delivered in accord- 
ance with the prescribed programme, without any further 
interference. But not so in relation to the publication of Mr. 
Gregory's address, as will be seen by the following letter from 

1. The persons selected to deliver the commemorative discourses were Eev. 
George Whitney of Roxbnry; Rev. John Gregory, pastor of the Universalist 
Society of this town; and a poem delivered by Christopher Pearse Crauch. 
These were all published, and an appendix giving a full account of the celebra- 
tion. This opposition to Mr. Gregory was not so much as to the matter of his 
address, as it was to his person. 



INCOEPORATION OF QUINCY. 81 

the Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., the President of the Day, to the 
Chainnan of the Committee, on February 10th, 1841, nine 
montlis after its delivery. What still more increased and inten- 
sified tlie feeling of the young men, was the slight their orator 
had received in not having his address to the young men pub- 
lislied at the time, witli Mr. Whitney's address and Mr. Crancli's 

l)oem : — 

" Boston, Feb. 10th, 1841. 

"Mr. Green :«— Why has not the Centennial Address of Rev. 
John Gregory been brought before the public V Why has it 
been delayed so long ? I understood it was to be published 
some time since. Has not a sufficient number subscribed for 
cojties? Please answer tliese queries. 

" I had supposed the old affair was entirely forgotten, and 
that a lending hand, (as a matter of course,) would be given for 
the publishing of this address, but I understand that it is other- 
wise. This is not the right principle for mankind to manifest 
towards each other, neither is it for those who lay such strong 
claims on ' democracy.' I think,#sir, in this case, instead of con- 
sulting the ' Golden Rule,' the (question has been asked. Is he of 
our order ? I presume his copies will find acceptance here m 
Boston, and I hope it will soon be published. 

" Respectfully, Q." 

The convivial part of the celebration was held under a spa- 
cious pavilion, erected on the Hancock Lot for the purpose. 

After a sumptuous dinner, the celebration closed with suitable 
speeches, and ajtpropriate sentiments were given, to the great 
satisfaction of the assembly. 

The one hundredth anniversary of the Episcopal Church was 
observed by a sermon preached in Christ Church on Christmas 
Day, 1827, by the Rector, Benjamin C. Cutler, and jniblisheil by 
the society. 

July 4th, 1876, the centennial of our nation's birth-day, was 
celebrated with great spirit. The day was ushered in by the 
ringing of all the church bells, and a salute of fifty guns. About 
six o'clock the large procession of Ancients aird Horribles began 
to move through the public streets, as assigned in the pro- 
gramme, headed by a platoon of mounted police, and consisted 
12 



82 I>rC0RP0RATI0N OF QUINCY. 

of five divisions. Their burlesque representations were iini(nie, 
grotesfjne, and to the point. The decorations of the buildings 
along the route of the procession were quite numerous. 

At nine o'clock some twenty-live yaclits engaged in a race at 
Quincy Point. 

The children of the town had a pleasant, agreeable and inter- 
esting entertainment at the Town Hall. 

On Granite street a large pavilion had been erected, where the 
commemorative exercises were held. The exei^iscs commenced 
with music by the Weymouth Band ; the singing was executed 
by a choir of one hundred voices ; and the Declaration of Inde- 
I)endence was read by six young ladies. The opening historical 
address was delivered by Charles Francis Adams, Jr., and was 
followed by historical sketches of the several churches in town, 
given by their respective pastors. In the absence of a settled 
clergyman over the Unitarian Society, Mr. Edwin W. Marsh 
spoke for that church. Col. Parker, Superintendent of the 
Schools, gave a brief history of the educational institutions. 
Mr. Charles H. Porter closed with an account of the town's war 
record. ^ 

Fireworks in the evening closed the ])eaceful commemomtion 
of tlie first centennial of our nation's existence as a free and en- 
lightened republic. An extended and full account of this cele- 
bration can be found in the Quincy Patriot issued July 8th, 1876, 

There have been several annexations of territory and people 
to the town of Quincy, (principally from the old town of Dor- 
chester, now Ward twenty-four, of Boston,) but in small and 
detached portions, as many of these people were loath to leave 
their native town of Dorchester. The first was in 1792, at the 
time of the incorporation of the town, when the following fam- 
ilies and their estates were added to the town of Quincy, viz : 
Benjamin lieale, Jr., Joseph Beale, John Billings, Eben. (ilover 
and Josiah Glover. 

In 1819, February l-Jtli, Mr. ('aleb Faxon and his estate was 
annexed. This land was a part of the estate now owned by 
Madison Glover, n'ear the new Catholic church at North Quincy. 

In 1820, it will be seen by the following enactment, that 
another large i)ortion of the Farms was added, viz : 



INCORPORATIOX OF QUINCY. 83 

"Sectiox 1. Be it enacted, that the Neponset river be and is 
now hereby established, as the boundary line between the towns 
of Dorchester and Quincy, in the County of Norfolk, and all 
that part of the town of Dorchester which lies on the southerly 
side of the river, called Squantum and the Farms, be and is 
hereby set off from the said town of Dorchester and annexed to 
the town of Quincy. Provided, nevertheless, that John Po})e, 
Edmund Pope, Moses Billings and Oliver ]>illings, with their re- 
spective families, and all their lands and estates lying in said 
Squantum and the Farms, and also Thompson Island, so called, 
with the inhabitants thereon, shall remain annexed to the town 
of Dorchester, anything in this act to the contrary notwithstand- 
ing ; and provided, also, that all lots or parcels of Salt Marsh, 
lying in said Squantum and the Farms, now owned by the town 
of Dorchester in its corporate capacity, or by the several inhabi- 
tants of the said town, shall, so long as they remain the }»roperty 
of any of the inhal)itants of said town, be exein))ted from taxa- 
tion by the town of Quincy, but may be taxed by the town of 
Dorchester in the same manner as though the act had never 
l)assed. 

" Sect. 2. Be it enacted, that the tOAvn of Quincy shall main- 
tain and support all paupers, who now have or may hereafter 
acquire a settlement in each and every part of Squantum and 
the Farms, which by this act and all former acts have been set off 
from the town of Dorchester and annexed to the town of Quincy. 

" Sect. 3. Be it further enacted, that the proprietors of lots 
of upland and marsh lying in that ])art of the town of Dorches- 
ter which is by this act set off from the said town and annexed 
to Quincy, shall be holden to pay taxes which have been legally 
assessed on them by the said town of Dorchester, in the same 
manner as though this act had not passed. 

"February 21st, 1820."^ 

The final and last annexation of the Squantum lands from 
Dorchester to Quincy was in ISoS, when "so much of the town 
of Dorchester, Avith the inhabitants thereon, as lies on the soiitli- 
easterly side of Neponset river, near to and at the jdace called 
Squantum, and including the estates now owned and occupied by 



1. Special Laws, Vol. V., p. 355. 



84 INCORPORATION OF QTJINCY. 

George B. Billings, Edmund Pope and George W. Billings, is 
hereby sot off from said Dorchester and ahnexed to the town of 
Quincy. 

« May 2d, 1855." 

April 24th, 1850. Braintrcc Neck, foi-merly called Knight's 
Neck, was annexed to the town. Annexations to the town have 
been quite numerous, but not large in extent of territory. 



CHAPTER OF AMALS. 



The following is tlic first warrant issued for a town meeting, 
by Judge Richard Cranch, in 1792, in accordance with the Act 
of Incorj^oration : — 

Suffolk, ss. Lieut. Elijah Veazie : 

You, one of the principal inhabitants of the town of Quincy, 
in the County of Suffolk, are hereby requested to issue and post 
the following warrant : 

In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you arc 
hereby required forthwith to warn and give notice to all the 
inhabitants (jualified to vote in town affairs, to assemble and 
meet at the meeting-house in said town, on Friday, the eighth 
day of March next ensuing, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then 
and there to clioose such tOM'n officers as towns arc required to 
choose at the annual town meetings, in the month of March or 
April annually. 

RICHARD CRANCII, Justice of the Peace. 
At this meeting the following toAvn officers were chosen : — 

Town Clerk, — Eben. Vesey. 

Treasurer, — ^Thomas B. Adams, Esq. 

Selectmen a7\d Assessors, — Ebenczer Miller, Esq., Capt. John 
Hall, Benjamin Beale, Jr., Esq. 

Constable, — Joseph Neal Arnold. 

Fence Vieioers, — Lieutenant Peter Brackett, Lieut. Jonathan 
Baxter. 

Surveyors of IHghways, — Lieut. Peter Brackett, Ebcnezer 
Nightingale, Lieut. Jonathan Baxter, Ensign Samuel Bass, Jon- 
athan Boalc. 

Jlogreaves, — Peter Adams, 2d, John Sanders. 



86 CpAPTER OF ANNALS. 

Tithingmen, — William Adams, William Sanrlers. 

Surveyor of Boards and Stileioorks^ — Lieut. Thomas Pratt. 

Surveyor of Hemp, — John Billings. 

Packer of Beef — Ebenezer Adams. 

Culler of Fish, — Capt. Samuel BroAvn. 

Bread Weigher, — Dea. Jonathan Webb. 

Sealer of Leather, — Thomas Cleverly, Jr. 

Hay Wards, — John Nightingale, Lemuel Billings. 

Fire Wards, — Edward Willard Baxter, Samuel Nightingale. 

The following is the first warrant issued under the town au- 
thority for the choice of State and County officers. It will be 
seen that a property qualification was required at this time to 
vote, and was not abolished until 1820, when a State Convention 
was convened for the purposd of altering and amending tlie 
constitution : — 

Suffolk, ss. Joseph Arnold, Constable of the town of Quincy, 
in said County. Greeting : 

You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, to notify and warn the male inhabitants of 
the said town of Quincy of 21 years of age, and u})Avards, 
having a freehold estate within the CommonAvealth of the an- 
nual income of three pounds, or an estate to the value of sixty 
pounds, to meet at the Meeting-house in said tqwn, on Monday, 
the 2d day of April next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, 
to give their votes for a Governor, Lieut. Governor, Senators and 
CouncilK)rs, agreeable to the Constitution of said Commonwealth, 
also to give in their votes for County Treasurer. 

Given under our hand, and seal of said town of Quincy, this 
19tli day of March, Anno Domini, 1792. 

At this meeting the following was the result of their ballot : — 

For Governor, — John Hancock, 51. 

For Lieut. Governor, — Samuel Adams, 50. 

For Senators, — James Bowdwin, 9; Thomas Dawes, 34; 
Hon. Oliver Wendall, S ; Wm. Pliillips, 25 ; Stei)hen Metcalf, 
28; Cotton Tufts, 33 ; Benjiunin Ausiin, 10; Tln)mas llussell, 
30 ; Wm. Ileatli, 33 ; John Reed, Est]., 1. 

For County Treasurer, — Thomas Crafts, 29. 



CUAPTEK OF ANNALS. 87 

The first warrant issued for a town meeting ^ for the transac- 
tion of town business, was in 1792. 

At a meeting hehl ]\Iay 14th, 1792 : — After an exciting dehate 
on tlie artiele in the warrant, wliich was to see if tlie town wouUl 
petition the General Court to luive the name of the town altered 
to some other, tlie question Avas decided in the negative. 

Voted to raise three hundred and fifty pounds, to defray the 
town expenses the present year. 

In 1792, the town first established hospitals for the purpose of 
inoculation for the small pox.^ September 3d, 1792, the town 

1. Suffolk, ss. Joseph Neal Arnold, Constable of the town of Quincy, in 
said County, Greeting: 

Yor are hereby requested, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts, to notify and warn the freeholders and other inhabitants of said town 
qualified by law to vote in town mtjeting, viz: — Such as pay the one single tax, 
besides the poll or polls, a sum equal to two-thirds of a single poll tax, to meet 
and assemble at the Meeting-house, on Monday, the second day of April next, 
at three o'clock in the afternoon, to act on the following articles: — 

Akticle 1. To choose a JNIoderator. 

Art. 2. To choose such officers as may be necessary. 

Art. 3. To raise such sum or sums of money for defraying the necessary 
charges of said town, as they nuiy think proper. 

Akt. ■i. To see if the town will direct the Selectmen to let the school lands, 
or divide the same with the town of Braintree, as the leases are out this spring, 
or choose a committee for that purpose. 

Akt. 5. To see what the town will do respecting the poor. 

Art. G. To see what the town will do respecting the schools, and wood for 
the .same. 

Art. 7. To see what manner the town will have the highways repaired. 

Art. 8. To see if the town will purcha.se a Pall or Burying cloth. 

Art. !I. To see if the town will sell four pews, formerly the singers'. 

Art. 10. To see whether the town will do anything respecting a number of 
notes lying in the hands of Deacon Jonathan Webb. 

Art. 11. To see if the town will allow any of the inhabitants to build stables 
near the Meeting-house. 

Art. 12. To see what the town will do in respect to building a I'ound. 

Art. 13. To choose a committee to settle all accounts and matters whatever 

between this town and the town of Hraintree, and any other committee the town 

may think proper. 

KBENEZKR MILLEK, ) 

.lOJlN HALL, Selectmen. 

BENJAMIN JiEALE, ) 

2. It was the custom at this time to inoculate people for the small pox from 
small pox matter, which custom (according to Dr. Collison's history of the 
small xjox) the Chinese had practiced from the sixth century, and the Brahmins 



88 CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 

instructed the Selectmen to open the following houses for the 
inoculation for the small pox, viz : Jesse Beale's, Benjamin 
Beale, Jr.'s, on Squantum ; that any and all houses on German- 
town be made use of, as suitable places for those who are inocu- 
lated for the small pox ; that Samuel Badcock's and Lemuel 

from a remote antiquity. It was not, however, till Lady Mary Wortley Monta- 
gue, in 1721, introduced this custom into England from Turkey,* that her people 
became interested in the subject. It met with great opposition, both from the 
medical profession and the clergy. In 1722, Rev. Edward Massey of England, 
preached a powerful sermon in opposition to its use, in which he asserted that 
Job's distemper was confluent small pox, and that he had been inoculated b^' 
the devil. 

In 1721, Dr. Cotton Mather, a minister of Boston, had, by reading several 
philosophical transactions on the inoculation for the small pox, become con- 
vinced that this was a safe and sure preventative from having this loathsome 
disease, and he recommended a trial of it to the physicians of Boston. They all 
declined except Dr. Boylston, who by this means made himself quite obnoxious 
to the people. The doctor was so strong in the faith that he began the experi- 
ment upon his own children, which proved successful. The people declared 
that if any of his patients should die he ought to be condemned as a murderer, 
and the opposition became so enraged that his family were quite unsafe in his 
house, and he was frequently insulted in the streets. The excitement was so 
great that the Justices of the Peace and Selectmen of Boston called a meeting 
of all the doctors, who, after considerable deliberation, arrived at the following 
conclusions: — 

"That it appears by numerous instances that inoculation has proved the death 
of manj' persons soon after the operation, and brought distemper upon many 
others, which in the end have proved deadly to them. That the natural tenden- 
cy of infusing such malignant filth in. the mass of blood is to corrupt and 
putrify it, and if there be not sufficient discharge of that malignity, by the 
place of incision or elsewhere, it lays a foundation for many dangerous diseases. 
That the continuing the operation among us is likely to prove of the most dan- 
gerous consequences." 

Hutchinson, in his history, relates the following opposition to Cotton IMather: 

" Doctor Mather, the first mover, after having been reproached and villified 
in pamphlefs and newspapers, was at length attacked in a more violent way. 
His nephew, Mr. Walter, one of the ministers of Roxbury, having been pri- 
vately inoculated in the Doctor's house, in Boston, a villain, about three o'clock 
in the morning, set fire to the fuse of a granado shell filled with combustible 
stuff, and threw it into the chamber where the sick man was lodged. The fuse 
was fortunately beat off by the passing of the shell through the window, and 
the wild fire spent itself upon the floor. It was generally supposed that the 
bursting of the shell was by that means prevented. A scurrilous, menacing 
writing was fastened to the shell or fuse." 

Notwithstanding all this opposition it gradually gained the confidence of the 
communitj', and finally came into general use. 



CHAPTEK OF ANNALS. 89 

Billings' house at the Farms may l)e made use of for tlic same 
purpose. Xo person shall have liberty to inoculate after the 
first of October. Each of these institutions were obliged to 
erect a smoke-house, and no person was allowed to leave until 
they had been thoroughly smoked, and had a certificate from the 
doctor certifying the person cleansed. The Selectmen were 
instructed to limit the ground upon which any person belonging 
to the hospitals, who has been inoculated, shall walk ; any indi- 
vidual who shall cross the line or limits made by the proper 
ofticers of the town, shall pay a penalty of three pounds. That 
one of the Selectmen attend the Court of Sessions on the morrow 
for instructions. 

There having been unpleasant differences betAveen Lieut. Seth 
Spear and Mr. James Brackett, a committee was chosen to ac- 
commodate matters between them. Perhaps it would have been 
more satisfactory to the inhabitants of the town if this ancient 
custom had been continued, although it might have seriously 
interfered with the legal profession. 

February 12th, 1793. The following persons were warned by 
the Selectmen to depart the limits of the town, viz : Thomas 
Welsh and wife, Barnabas Swift, Seth Joice, Thomas Swift, 
James McDaniels, James Dorren, Jacob Fowle and family, Mr. 
Copeland, Luke Herd and family, Thomas Haskell, Samuel 
Withington and family, John Paul and family, James Faxon and 
family. Gains Thayer and family, Wm. Jenkins, and Patty Page 
(so called.) 

April 80th, 1793. It was voted at this meeting that a drift-way 
should be laid out to Nut Island. 

August 12th, 1793. Voted, That Judge Cranch, Moses Black, 
Esq., and Ebenezer Miller, Esq., be authorized to petition the 
General Court to have the town of Quincy annexed to Suf- 
folk County. 

A standing committee was chosen, to see that there be not 
any privateering fitted out from this place by any of the citizens 
of the United States or others, against any of the belligerent 
jtowers, in order that strict neutrality may be kept up between 
us and them. 

December 30th, 1793. In future the bell will toll for the com- 
13 



90 ' CHAPTEE OF ANNALS. 

mencement of divine service at half-past ten o'clock a. m., and 
half-past one o'clock p. m., from the first of November to the 
first of April ; at ten o'clock a. m., and two o'clock p. u., from 
April to the first of November. 

March 10th, 1794. Voted, That Benjamin Beale, Esq., Thomas 
Pratt, Capt. Daniel Baxter, Lieut. Elijah Veazie, and Mr. Charles 
Newcomb, be a committee to make and exhibit a plan or plans 
of a house for the poor, with cost for erection. 

Two shillings allowed for each day's work on the highways. 
May 12th, 1794. At this meeting the committee chosen to 
select a plan for a poor house reported in favor of building one, 
and that they had selected for its site the town's land near 
Scant's swamp. Messrs. Benjamin Beale, Peter B. Adams and 
Moses Black were a committee to build the house, and it was 
decided that it should be built forthwith. This house stood 
nearly on the spot where the town's pound now stands. 

Voted, To have a town meeting called to see if the town will 
sell the body seats in the meeting-house. 

May 29th, 1794. Voted, To sell seats on the south side of 
broad alley. 

June 19th, 1794. Capt. Daniel Baxter was authorized to col- 
lect the taxes, at nine-and-a-half pence per pound. Also, to 
cause the two opposite body seats to be made into two pews, 
corresiJonding in every particular with the two the ground was 
sold for. 

September 15th, 1794. Deacon Jonathan Webb, Benjamin 
Beale, Esq., and Capt. John Hall were chosen a committee to 
take or cause to be taken a plan of the town, agreeable to an act 
of the General Court parsed June 18tli, 1794. A committee was 
also chosen to confer with the Rev. Mr. Wibird, about shutting 
up the meeting-house during his poor health. 

November 3d, 1794. Capt John Hall, Capt. Daniel Baxter, 
Lieut. Alpheus Cary, Esq., were chosen a committee to assist 
Capt. Joseph Brackett to procure his quota of men to go into 
the army, if called for. 

January 5th, 1795. To allow the committee £9, 7s, Gd, agree- 
able to their account rendered this day, it being for a bounty 
l)aid by them to sundry persons enlisted as soldiers. 



CHAPTER or ANNALS. 91 

January 5th, 1795, Voted^ That the Rev. Mr. Briggs, or some 
j>cr.son, be requested to supply tlic pulpit until next March 
meeting. 

April Gth, 1795. Voted, To let the pews in the meeting-house 
adjoining the Rev. Mr. Wibird's, lately built, for the term of 
one year, these pews to be let out at vendue to the highest 
bidder. To allow the Town Clerk thirty shillings, for the jiast 
two years' services. 

May Gth, 1795. Moses Beal was chosen Representative. The 
following is the vote given for and against the revision of the 
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: For re- 
vision, 5 ; against it, 34. 

May 27th, 1795. The Selectmen be empowered to hire a piece 
of ground of Mr. James Brackett for a garden for the i)oor of 
the town, what they may think sufficient, for a term of four 
years. 

October 1st, 1795. Voted, To build a school-house. A com- 
mittee was chosen to make a plan and estimate the cost of said 
school-house. 

Noveinber 16th, 1795. Voted, That the school-house shall be 
built on the Training Field, and that part of it which the com- 
mittee thinks most proper. 

January 17th, 1796. Mary Dunham, Lettiee Pierce, Widow 
Lettiee Pierce, and other persons were warned to depart tlie 
limits of the town. 

March 7th, 1796. Rev. Mr. Flint to officiate in the meeting- 
house until the second Sunday in April. 

That the poor be put into the house built for their accommo- 
dation, excepting such iis the Selectmen think not proper to be 
])laced there. .(This was the first almshouse built in town.) 

The school to be kept the same manner as last year, and the 
master to be hired by the year. 

December 8th, 1796. Voted, To accept the Committee's re- 
port chosen to settle the line of fence between Mr. Seth Burrell 
and the town lands or training field, according to the following 
agreement, enclosed in said report to the town : — " And we have 
further agreed to allow said Burrell ten dollars for taking down 
the old bake-house, and to run a straight line from the south 



92 CHAPTER OF ANNALS, 

corner of the new scliool-house until it comes within four feet of 
the underpinning of said new school-house ; then to turn and run 
back into said Burrell's land four feet ; and then turning and 
running parallel with said new school-house until it extends be- 
yond the easterly corner of said new school-house four feet ; then 
running on a straight line ten rods to the north corner of the town 
pound, or as far as said BurrelPs land extends. Said town to 
have liberty of four feet of land back of the line, behind the new 
school-house and seven feet long, to build a necessary-house on." 

March 6th, 1797, Voted, To sell the old school-house, and 
move it away from the ground where it now stands. 

April 3d, 1797. Eighty-five pounds to be appropriated for 
schooling, the whole to be for the new school-house and not 
for any other the present year. That all the poor belonging to 
the town shall go to the poor-house, and there be provided for 
the current year. 

May 1st, 1797. Votes were called for by the Selectmen for a 
Kepresentative to the General Court, which were as follows : 
Moses Black, 29 ; Benjamin Beale, Esq., 12 ; John Hall, 5 ; Peter 
B. Adams, 4. • 

Voted, That every man shall have the privilege of voting for 
a colleague to settle in the ministry who is twenty-one years of 
age. The vote was taken for said colleague, and the result Avas 
as follows, viz :— Mr. Whitney, 46, and Mr. Flint 34 ; on the 
second ballot, Mr, Whitney 60, and Mr. Flint 8. A committee 
was chosen to make estimates and proposals what they supposed 
Avould be a proper and sufficient salary for a minister to settle 
over the parish. 

May 6th, 1797. To raise two hundred .dollars for repairs of 
the highways, according to the new method prQj^osed by the 
Selectmen, 

June 19th, 1797. Voted, To secure three thousand dollars as a 
fund to erect and support an academy in the town of Quincy, 
agreeable to a resolve of the General Court. 

July 31st, 1797. At this town meeting the question of settling 
a colleague with Mr. Wibird was again brought before the toAvn, 
and acted upon with the following result : Mr. Jacob Flint of 
Reading, 45'; to hear further, 20. . . 



CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 93 

Voted, To choose a committee to treat with Mr. Flint on tlie 
subject of being settled here as an assistant minister. 

August 7th, 1707. The committee appointed by the town of 
Quincy on Monday last, being the 31st of July, for the purpose 
of making estimates and proposals to the town, what they should 
think would be a proper offer to Mr. Flint, as a salary to settle 
here as a colle:\gue with the Rev. Anthony Wibird, beg leave to 
make the following report : — 

" Your committee would say that they have attended to said 
matter, as follows : That they have carefully taken into consid- 
eration the present state and circumstances of the town of 
Quincy at large, and the Congregational Society in particular, 
and on the whole it is their o])inion and niatm-e judgment that 
the sum of five hundred dollars, without any settling be offered 
to Mr. Flint as a salary for one year, if he should not settle as a 
colleague with Mr. Wibird. And in order that the salary in 
future may be such as shall from year to year be just and equi- 
table jjroportions to the increase and decrease in jsrices of the 
most necessary articles of Life, your committee has leave to lay 
before the town their thoughts upon the subject, in the follow- 
ing necessary articles of food, viz : Indian Corn, Rye, Beef, 
Pork, at the proper season of the year for purchasing of the 
above-named articles; the same to be made the standard by 
which to estimate the salary for said year. The prices of the 
articles at the present time are as follows, viz : — 

" Indian Com, per Bushel, 
" Rye " " 

"Beef, per Hundred, 
" Pork, per Pound, 

After having read the above report, a letter was read from Mr. 
Flint declining the invitation to settle here, on the ground of 
the inadecpiacy of the amount offered him for his salary. The 
letter is too long to insert here, as it would amount in spirit, 
sentiment and length to an ordinary sermon. 

September 25th, 1797. At this meeting another proposition 
was made to the town, — to make an addition to the salary of 
Mr. Flint, — but it w.;s voted in the negative. 



£ s. 


D. 


6 





7 


6 


1 16 








6." 



94 CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 

This syBtem of basing the salaries of clergymen on the neces- 
saries of life, which custom had been in vogue from the earliest 
organization of religious societies in the colonies, had at this 
time become unsatisfactory and unjust to all parties. So much 
so was this the case, that this was the last public meeting of 
the citizens of Quincy in which this old ecclesiastical usage was 
brought before the town. 

The following is the report of the committee, October 23d, 
1797, on their new departure from this old custom : — 

" Your committee think it a matter of great importance that 
a minister and his people should thrive together in mutual love 
and harmony, and that everything ought to be avoided relating 
to the settling that might interrupt ; therefore, on the most 
mature consideration of the subject taken in every point of 
view, your committee are of an opinion that it will not be best 
to place the salary on any of the necessaries of life, knowing 
that such a settlement, based on the necessaries of life, has 
generally proved a ground of uneasiness, either on the side of 
the minister or the j^eople, who will differ considerably in their 
judgment on the subject. Your committee give it as their most 
mature judgment that it would be best for the town to offer the 
Rev. Mr. Whitman such a sum, to be pnid to him annually, as 
will enable him to maintain liimself and family comfortably and 
with such decency as will do honor to the society that supports 
them ; and it is the opinion of your committee, that the sum of 
five hundred dollars per annum will afford him and his family 
a decent support, and they do now accordingly report that sum 
for the consideration of the town. Your committee would 
further report that it is their oi^inion that it would be better and 
more proper for the town to procure a dwelling-hoiise for the 
Rev. Mr. Whitman and family, at the town's expense, for them 
to live in from the time he may come to settle with us till the 
first of April, 1799, in order to give him time to dispose of his 
interest at Pembroke and purchase here." 

A vote was accordingly passed to give the Rev. Kilborn Whit- 
man a call to settle here as a colleague with the Rev. Mr. Wibird. 

Mr. Whitman, in a long and cordinl letter declined the invita- 
tion to settle here, his reason being the want of unanimity of 



CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 95 

those who gave him the call. The meeting, after having received 
this unexj)ecte(l answer, made a division of said meeting on tlie 
subject as follows, viz : Seventy-eight voted for, and eight 
against it. The meeting was then dissolved. 

March 4th, 1798. Voted, To give liberty to individual sub- 
scribers to erect a pair of hay-scales in the town, on the town 
land, where it will be most convenient and not incommode the 
liighway. They were erected nearly opposite what is now 
Hancock Court. 

3Iarch 5th, 1798. Peter B. Adams, Lieut. Elijah Veazie, and 
Lieut. Jonathan Baxter were chosen Selectmen for the ensuing 
year. 

August 19th, 1799. Voted, That Mr. James Tuckerman 
preach four Sundays, and Mr. Kendall four Sundays. 

September 80th, 1799. The thanks of the town were present- 
ed to the President of the United States, [John Adams,] and 
Moses Black, Esq., for the present of a clock to be put into the 
First Church. 

December 2d, 1799. The following vote was taken upon set- 
tling Rev. Peter Whitney as a colleague with the Rev. Anthony 
Wibird : Rev. Peter Whitney, 48 votes ; to hear further, 8. 
The following salary was decided upon : $500.00 with settling, 
and 8550.00 without settlement. 

January 13th, 1800. To take into consideration the ordina- 
tion of Rev. Peter Whitney. The 5th of February was appoint- 
ed as the day set apart for the purpose, and that a council of 
ten churches attend the ordination. , 

March Gth, 1800. A.t the annual meeting Mr. Moses Black 
was chosen Moderator ; Mottram Vesey, Clerk ; Moses Black, 
Treasurer ; Deacon Elijah Veasey, Lieut. Jonatlian Baxter, 
J^ieut. Aljdieus Carey, Selectmen. Three thousand dollars were 
raised for town expenses the year ensuing, four hundred dollars 
to be raised for schools, viz : School-house, §270.00 ; Farm Dis- 
trict, 827.50; Squantum, 810.00; Hough's Neck and German- 
town, 822.50 ; Old Fields District, 811.00 ; Penu's Hill District, 
822.50; Woods District, $22.50; North District, 114.00. Tlie 
vacancy where the old stairway was in the church, be appropri- 
ated for the use of the black people to sit in. 



96 CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 

April 7th, 1800. The following votes were cast for Governor : 
Caleb Strong, 55; Elbridge Gerry, 11 ; Hon. William Heath, 1. 

To widen Old Field Road one rod and one-Jialf. 

May 5th, 1800. At this meeting a Representative was chosen 
to the General Court, the vote standing as follows : Moses 
Black, 50; Benjamin Beal, 16; James Brackett, 1. 

January 11th, 1802, To choose two agents to assist with their 
Representative in aiding a petition in General Court to build a 
bridge over NejDonset river, the expense to be defrayed by the 
town. This year it was voted to adorn the green, on which the 
First Church stands, with trees. 

March 7th, 1803. There shall be jn-ovided, at the expense of 
the town, seventy-five hundred weight of powder and two hun- 
dred weight of balls, to be kej^t in stock and dei^osited in some 
proper place, for the use of two companies of training soldiers 
when re(piired. 

August 29th, 1803. The committee chosen on the Neponset 
turnpike made the following report : — 

" That the town do grant to said corporation all their right 
and title to the old road, between Mr. Black's and the stone post 
at the corner leading to Squantum, excepting that j^art of the 
road which leads to Jesse Fenno's and the marshes, whenever 
the said corporation shall open the new road, agreeable to their 
act of incorporation, it being understood that this grant is made 
to said corporation upon condition that they shall convey the 
said old road to the respective jiroprietors of the land who have 
given the new road, agreeable to the agreement made between 
said corporation and said proprietors of the land. 

"Peter Adams, ") 

" Joseph Baxter, >- Committee." 

"Daniel Greenleap, ) 

Voted, That the poor be let out at vendue to the lowest bid- 
der, to be supported for the term of one year, on the same con- 
ditions that they were let out last year, viz : They are to be 
furnished with provisions, clothes and fire-wood, what may be 
necessary to support them comfortably. Accordingly the poor 
were put up by the Moderator, and were struck off to John 
Spear, at $495, for said term. 



CHAPTER OF ANXALS. 97 

April '2(1, 1804. To grant the singers tlie sum of twenty-five 
dollars to jirocure a bass viol for the use of the congregation. 
To lay out the floor in the side galleries 'for pews, and to sell 
the same. 

May 7th, 18U4. The committee made the following report on 
the siibject of making a straight road through the centre of the 
town, viz : — '^ That jNlr. Ebenezer Veasey offered to straighten 
the road according to the burying-ground wall, fill uj) the old 
well, remove the barn, and make the fence through the land into 
the road, as it is now staked out, for $200 ; reserving to him- 
self the turf or soil, also as much of Capt. John Newcomb's 
land as may be necessary to sfi'aighten the road, at $G00 per 
acre." 

April 2d, 1804. This year we find for the first time recorded 
the votes for a full list of Presidential Electors, although three 
l»residential elections, previous to this date, had been held since 
tiie incorporation of the town. The vote for Electors at largo 
was as follows, viz: Hon. David Cobb of Goldsborough ])is- 
trict, Maine, 90 ; Hon. Oliver Wendall of Boston District, 90 ; 
James Sullivan of Boston District, 27 ; Elbridge Gerry of Cam- 
bridge District, 27. District Electors : Norfolk District, Cotton 
Tufts of Weymouth, 90 ; Norfolk District, Hon. William Heath, 
27. The remaining District Electors we have omitted, but each 
l)arty cast the same number of votes for all of their respective 
candidates. It was not, it appears, until this year that the ma- 
chinery of the presidential election got fairly into working order. 

At the Presidential election in 1790, the citizens of the town 
seem to have bolted the regular Federal nominees for Electors, 
^uid to have voted for an independent candidate, an inhabitant 
of their own town. It api)ears a little singular that the jMassa- 
chusetts Electors, wdio gave their suffrage to Mr. John Adams, 
did not receive a vote at this election in Quincy. Why the town 
refused to cast their ballots for Mr. Adams, we are unable to 
state. The following is the record of this election : — " The 
inhabitants of the town met for the choice of Electors for Pres- 
ident and Vice-President, and gave in their votes as follows : 
Benjamin Beale, Esq., 88 ;" and this appears to have been the 
only Elector voted for in town. Mr. Beale, also received 
14 



98 CHAPTER OP ANNALS. 

two votes in Randolph, and it will be seen that he was not one 
of the Massachusetts Electors who cast their ballot for Mr. 
Adams.^ 

December 10th, 1804. The committee on widening the road 
through the centre of the town are further empowered to pur- 
chase of Theophilus Thayer such a piece of land as may- be 
thought necessary for tlie above purpose, at the rate of six hun- 
dred dollars per acre. If he is not willing to sell at this rate, 
take the land and abide the decision of the law. This estate 
was located where now stands the Congregational Church. 

May 6th, 1805. Moses Black, Esq., James Brackett, and 
Peter B. Adams, Esq., were further empowered to meet the 
town of Braintree Agents, respecting a division of a piece of 
land known by the name of Owens Fields, lying in Quincy. 

April 7th, 1806. Voted, To dismiss the article respecting 
fishing and fowling on half-moon, viz : — " To know if the town 
will maintain their right and priviledge, according to old custom, 
in fishing and fowling on half-moon, and if any inhabitant should 
be prosecuted on that account, that the town, as a town, would 
defend the prosecution." 

April 7th, 1807. A committee was chosen to lay out a road 
to Bent's Point, from the meeting-house. 

April 11th, 1808. The committee to whom was re-committed 
the subject of laying out the road to Hough's Neck and German- 
town, made a lengthy report on May 23d, which was accepted by 
the towli. The following is an abstract of said report : " That 
said road laid out by this committee was more convenient than 

1. The following persons were chosen as the Presidential Electors of Massa- 
chusetts for 17% :— 

ELECTORS AT LARGE. 

"William Sever, Stephen Longfellow. 

DISTRICT ELECTORS. 

No. 1, — Samuel Hollis. No. 8, — David Rosseter. 

No. 2,— Edward II. llobbius. No. !),— Nathaniel "NVells. 

No. 3,— Elbridge Gerry. No. 10,— Ebonezer Hunt. 
No. 4, — Ebeuezor Mattoou. . No. ll,~Elisha May. 

No. 5, — Samuel riiillips. No. 12, —Joseph Allen. 

No. 6, — Increase Sumner. No. 13,— Thomas Rice. 

No. 7, — Thomas Dawes. No. 14, — Ebenezer Bacon . 



CHAPTER OP ANNALS. 99 

the road as used and laid out in 1673, and a saving of one hun- 
dred rods in distance, and would quiet this unpleasant subject 
which had so long agitated the puhlic mind, and do away with 
the bars and gates which have been of so much annoyance to 
their free communication to the Neck and Germantown." 

November 7th, 1808. That the thanks of the town be pre- 
sented, through the Selectmen, to the Hon. Josiah Quincy, for 
his generous and valuable gift to the First Church, in tliis town, 
of a large Bible for the use of the sacred desk ; and further, that 
the Selectmen be requested to cause a place to be made in the 
pulpit, for the purpose of keeping it secure from danger ; and 
that the old Bible be presented to the Rev. Mr. Whitney, as a 
gift from the town. 

April 3d, 1809. This year school districts were first estab- 
lished by metes and bounds, viz : Hough's Neck and German- 
town District, Old Fields District, Pcnn's District, Wood's 
District, North District, Farms District, Squantum District, 
Centre District. 

April 17th, 1809. For years cattle were allowed to be pas- 
tured in the old cemetery, locatq^ on Hancock street. This 
desecration of the cemetery by cattle trampling down tomb- 
stones had become a matter of considerable complaint; by the 
liberality of several of the town's most noted citizens, the people 
were relieved of this trouble. It was voted that a deed present- 
ed this day to the town, signed by the Hon. John Quincy Adams 
and the Hon. Josiah Quincy, conveying the right of passage, 
herbage and pasturage in and over the burial ground in said 
town, be accepted on the conditions expressed in said instru- 
ment, and that the thanks of the town be presented to these 
gentlemen for their liberal donation. 

May 6th, 1809. Voted, To purchase a new bell for the 
meeting-house, (which was the First Church,) the weight to be 
thirteen hundred pounds. The sale of the old one to be left with 
the committee. 

Voted, To accept the road, as laid out by the Selectmen, from 
the new bridge to the training field, and the expenses on said 
bridge not to exceed ninety dollars. 

August 30th, 1809. An attempt was made to introduce inoc- 



100 CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 

ulation, or, as it is now called, vaccination, from the kine or cow 
pox. After a long and earnest debate the question was decided 
in the negative, that it would be of no use, nor any protection 
to the public against the loathsome disease, small pox. 

May 6th, 1811. The Selectmen are requested to procure ac- 
commodations for the inhabitants of the town to sit in the hall 
at town meetings. 

November 12th, 1812. Vote for the choice of Electors for 
the Southern District : William Heath, 121 ; Joshua Thomas, 
121 ; David Scudder, 121 ; William Rotch, 121 ; John Adams, 
28 ; Nathaniel Morton, 26 ; John Davis, 25 ; Joseph Barker, 26. 

May 31st, 1813. A committee was chosen for the pur230se of 
communicating and receiving information concerning husbandry, 
so that the town could better understand what improvements 
had been made in agriculture. 

Voted, To allow the singers the sum of twenty dollars. 

May od, 1814. A report of a committee on the annexation 
of a part of Dorchester to Quincy was received, viz : — That all 
that tract of land lying on the south side of Neponset river, 
and within the old line of the town of Dorchester, about eight 
acres, known by the name of Horse Hommock ; also a tract of 
land called Bayfield, containing seventeen acres, be annexed. 

Voted, To allow the soldiers twenty dollars per month, and 
that they be paid, and to deduct the interest" of one year if paid 
within two months from this date. 

October 2d, 1815. Abstract of report of committee on build- 
ing an almshouse : — "They liave given much time and attention 
to the duty assigned them, and have caused to be completed a 
firm, substantial and convenient house, for the permanent accom- 
modation of the poor of the town. The estimated amount for 
building the house last May, as they reported to the town, was 
$2,200, but by economy in purchasing the materials, and judi- 
cious management in contracting the work, we have been ena- 
bled to complete the house for |1,973.18." Tliis house is the 
same as now used for the town's poor. 

The Town Hall, in which was included the Grammar School 
Room, was burnt down December 30th, 1815. 

March 4th, 1816. The committee on Town House and 



CHAPTER OF AXNALS. 101 

School House made the folloAving report, to wit : — " Your com- 
mittee are unanimously of the opinion that it will be expedient 
for the town to cause to be erected a building of sufficient 
dimensions to allow two school-i'ooms on the lower floor, the 
second story to be reserved and conveniently arranged as a 
Town Hall, for the inhabitants to meet in. Your committee 
were also requested to report on a site for said building, but not 
having had time to give this point suitable consideration, would 
have it referred to another committee, and they be clioscn by 
ballot." This was agreed to. 

May 6th, 1816. The Committee on the Town Hall reported 
as follows : — " That, for the purpose expressed in their commis- 
sion, it will be expedient to erect a house in dimensions 30 feet 
by 55 feet, and 20 feet high, to be completed agreeable to a plan 
submitted for your consideration. Your committee also present 
for investigation an estimate of expense, material and work, by 
which it appears that if the house is built according to the re- 
ported plan of wood, it will cost $2,200 ; if of stone, $3,600. 
Your committee was also requested to point out a site the most 
convenient for said building. To this part of their commission 
they have given considerable time and attention ; the result of 
their inquiries is as follows : The only convenient place or site is 
a part of Mr, John Briesler's lot adjoining the burying ground. 
It can be bought for six dollars per rod, at which i)rice the land 
required will cost about two hundred." 

Hon. Tliomas Greenleaf, Thomas B. Adams, Benjamin Page, 
Deacon Josiah Adams, and Edmund Billings were chosen a com- 
mittee, and directed and duly authorized to mark out, on some 
part of the training field, the most convenient site, in their 
ojjinion, on which to erect, for the accommodation of the town, 
a building for a School House and a Town Hall, and that they 
cause the same to be properly staked out, and give due notice to 
the building committee. 

June 24th, 1810. The former vote on tlie Town Hall and 
School House was reconsidered, and a new committee chosen and 
authorized to purchase one acre of land of Mr. Jolin Bates, all 
the front northerly on the road leading to Bent's Point, so-called, 
on which to erect a Town Hall and School House, at the price 



102 CHAPTEB OF ANNALS. 

of three hundred dollars per acre. Deacon Spear, Capt. John 
Hall and Frederick Hardwick were the committee chosen for 
the above purpose, and they were also empowered to give their 
obligations in behalf of the town to Mr, Bates for payment of 
the land, and take a deed for the same. 

July 8th, 1816. The town not being satisfied with their pre- 
vious action, in choosing a committee and authorizing them to 
purchase a lot of Mr. Bates, reconsidered the vote, and chose 
another committee, viz : Mr. Thomas Greenleaf, Noah Curtis, 
Deacon Spear, Edmund Billings and Asa Pope, who were 
authorized and requested to ascertain if there were any other 
lots that would in their opinion afford a more convenient site for 
said building, with better accommodations for the town, than 
that purchased of Mr. Bates. 

July 16th, 1816. The committee made the following report on 
the Town House : — 

" That there are several lots of land in the vicinity of the 
training field, which may now be purchased, either of which, in 
the opinion of your committee, will afford a more eligible site 
for a public building, and will better accommodate the inhabi- 
tants of the town. 

'■^First, — A lot of Mr. Briesler's, adjoining the burying ground, 
which measures fifty-five rods, five feet. The price is six dollars 
per rod ; whole cost of said j^iece of land, three hundred and 
thirty-nine dollars. 

" Second^ — A lot of Mr. Savil's, adjoining Mr. Quincy's sheds, 
measuring twenty-one rods. Price, three hundred dollars, about 
fourteen dollars per rod. 

" Third,— A lot of Deacon Webb's, north of Mr. Burrell's 
house, measuring twenty-five rods. Price per rod, eight dollars. 

" Fourth, — A lot of Deacon Adams', opposite the engine 
house, measuring twenty rods, at fifteen dollars per rod. 

"Your committee are of the unanimous opinion that Mr. 
Briesler's lot possesses the greatest advantages for the town, and 
is the most eligible site." 

The above report was accepted, and the same committee 
was instructed to have said Town House erected, and purchase 
the land of Mr. Briesler ; also to let the land purchased of Mr. 



CHAFTEB OF ANNALS. 103 

Bates. Thus ended this long and vexatious question of locating 
the Town House, which was as difficult and troublesome as is 
the settling a minister in some of our churches. 

July 21st, 1817. The committee reported the School House 
and Town House completed, at a cost of $2,127.19. 

April 11th, 1818. Voted, That Mr. Daniel Hobart be author- 
ized and directed to keep the boys in order in the meeting-house 
on Sundays. 

April 5th, 1819. Voted, To allow the singers fifty dollars. 

Voted, To add that portion of the land purchased of Mr. 
Briesler not occupied by the new Town House to the burying 
ground, reserving, on the southeast side and southwest end, 
eighteen feet, for the purpose of erecting tombs. 

November 18th, 1819. Voted, That a private way be laid out 
for the benefit of Mr. "William Packard, to his quarries of stone, 
at his own expense, for the purpose of transporting the same. 

April, 1820. Voted, That the thanks of the town be present- 
ed to their Agent, for his valuable services in assisting the town 
petition for establishing Neponset river as the boundary line be- 
tween Dorchester and Quincy. This was the settlement of a 
question that had long been in controversy, relieving the town 
from a great deal of trouble and expense in assessing and col- 
lecting taxes. 

April, 1820. This is the Committee's report on schools: — 
" The whole number of scholars in both schools during the last 
winter, exclusive of some that were transient, was two hundred 
and four, seventy-nine of whom belonged to the cyphering school, 
which was kept in the smallest room, nearly the whole number 
attending. The room was so much crowded that the scholaVs 
were obliged to wait one for the other, for seats, notwithstand- 
ing the master gave up his desk, and used every means in his 
power to accommodate them. The committee recommend the 
enlargement of the room, which seems to be needed." 

April 7th, 1823. Voted, To allow the singers ninety doUars; 
also, to see what right individuals have to take children to board 
from out of town, for the purpose of sending them to the town 
school. 

For years it had been a desirable object to establish a more 



104 CIIAPTKK OF ANNALS. 

convenient and easici' metliod of conveying stone from the quar- 
ries to the wharves or ph^cc of transportation, than by tlie slow, 
tedious and extremely burdensome system of carting them by 
cattle ; and also to lessen the heavy expense which attended this 
manner of transportation. No way had as yet been devised for 
taking stone to the wliarves but ])y teams, and, as it could not 
in those days of poor roads and insufficient vehicles be easily 
taken to the water, a ])lan was devised for bringing tlie water 
nearer to the stone. Accordingly, in the s})ring and summer of 
1824, a canal was projected and begun by Mr. Joshua Torrey, an 
enterprising citizen of the town. It was intended it should run 
from the head of the creek, east of the almshouse, nearly to the 
stone meeting-house, which Avould economize a great part of the 
carriage by land. It was entered upon and pursued for a time 
with great spirit. Tlie town chose a committee to investigate 
the fcnsibility of this imjiortant ])roject, who reported strongly 
in its favor, but were unable to afford it any pecuniary assist- 
ance, and it proving too expensive, at least for one individual, 
the whole design of this much needed and connnendable iin- 
]u-ovement was finally abandoned. 

Although Mr. Torrey's commendable ])roject proved a failure, 
it seems to have awakened a spirit of public enterprise among 
the citizens of the town, as in the sj)ring of 1825 they set on 
foot another ])lan for the construction of a canal, Avhich was to 
follow the stream enlled Town Iliver, from the tide-mill up to 
the stone bridge on the llinghani and Quiney Turnpike, and by 
dredging out the old channel, so that large sloops could easily 
approach the spacious wharves that were to be built for the 
j)urp()se of making navigation prolitable, and make it more 
convenient for the inhabitants of the town to i)rocure their 
hunber, grain and other merchandise at a more reasonable price. 

A company was incorpt)rated, under the name of the (Quiney 
Canal Corporation, the shares were readily sold, and its construc- 
tion was comnu'noed Avith a great deal of enthusiasm, and san- 
guine hopes of future success. After considerable delay, caused 
by making unsatisfactory contracts, the uiulertaking Avas finally 
et)mi»leted in the autumn of 182G, at a cost of ten thousand dol- 
lars. The corporation continued in operation for some time, with 



CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 105 

varied success, but finally proving unsuccessful, was dissolved 
some years ago, at a great loss to the sliare holders. 

During the construction of the canal, a more important and 
bolder enterprise was started for the building of a laihvay for 
the transportation of stone, as in January, 1820, a petition was 
presented to the Legislature for an act of incorporation to con- 
struct a railway in Quincy, from the stone quarries to Neponset 
river. The following is the form of the petition : — 

"The undersigned petitioners represent, that it wouhl be of 
great public utility to establish a railway from certain cpiarries 
in the town of Quincy to the tide waters, for the carrying of 
stone to be used in building. That yoiir petitioners arc disposed 
to establish the same, or to aid in effecting it ; but that it will 
require a voluntary subscription, and employment of a large 
sum of money, and such sum can only be obtained by extending 
\ the subscription among many persons, and that it would greatly 
facilitate the enterprise if those who are engaged in it should 
act under corporate power.s." 

This })etition was signed by Thomas Handeyside Perkins, 
William Sullivan, Amos Lawrence, Solomon Willard, David 
Moody and Grfdley Bryant, all of Boston with tlie exception of 
Solomon Willard. 

This, like other great cx])erimcnts of internal improvement 
could not be projected and carried on without opposition from 
zealous and interested parties, who thought their selfish inter- 
ests should be paramount to the public good, as was the case in 
this instance. 

Many of the inhabiunnts of Quincy, as well as individual 
owners of quarries, desired that the railway should run through 
the town to Brackett's Wharf or the Point. Tins route they 
endeavored to make appear more feasible, as its construction 
would be attended with much less cost, and would be more fa- 
vorable to the interests of those who were in possession of valu- 
able quarries in the North Commons, where stone had been 
taken for years. They anticipated that this enterprise might 
enable the railway company to absorb all the business by their 
greater facilities in cheapening the transportation of stone, and 
they would have to give up their business or construct a railway 

15 



106 CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 

at their own exj^ense, which, with their Hmitecl means, was too 
great an undertaking for them to accomplish. 

Tliis, like all other imaginary troubles, soon came to an end. 
Those who have carried on the stone business in the North 
Commons, have been as successful as those who have transacted 
the same business at the railway. 

The only official action ff the town we liave been enabled to 
■ find, was, that at a public meeting held January 25th, 1826, a 
committee of fifteen of the most influential citizens was chosen 
to confer with the Legislative Committee, and instructed to 
favor or oppose this project, if in their judgment it would prove 
favorable or unfavorable to the interest of the town. The fol- 
lowing gentlemen were chosen the committee, viz : Hon. Thomas 
Greenleaf, Edward Miller, Esq., Josiah Bass, Isaac Riddle, Esq., 
Hon. Tfiomas B. Adams, George W. Beale, Elisha Marsh, Noah 
Curtis, Josiah Adams, Josiah Brighara, Frederick Hardwick, 
Daniel Greenleaf, John Souther, Henry Wood, and Edmund 
Billings. 

The opposition to this important object did not seem to have 
been very successful, as an act of incorporation was granted 
it by the Legislature, and was approved on the fourth of March, 
1826. The company, as soon as sufficient capital could be pro- 
cured, was organized by making choice of Col. Thomas H, Per- 
kins, President. 

The railroad was built during this year, but not without much 
delay; the estimated cost was one hundred thousand dollars. 
This was the first incorporated railroad in America. It was not 
until the twenty-seventh of March, 1827,'that the contract for 
the transportation of stone was made. By this contract the 
company agreed to carry, during the year 1827, three thousand 
tons of hewn granite. 

This great internal improvement grew out of a project of 
constructing a monument on Bunker Hill, in commemoration 
of a great historic battle, fought on this eminence at the open- 
ing of the American Revolution. The Monument Association 
had purchased a cpiarry in Quincy, for the pur])ose of procuring 
suitable material for the construction of this monument. Up to 
this time large blocks of granite had not been used or trans- 



CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 107 

ported. It then became a serious matter of consideration with 
tlie Association, what method Avould be the most economical 
and successful for the carrying of stone. The committee, after 
l)ecoming satisfied tliat tlie system adopted in England for the 
conveyance of% heavy merchandise, especially coal and iron 
from the mines, by tramways, was successful, reasonably con- 
cluded that if a similar system was established here it would 
meet their desired wants. And so it proved, by a saving of 
gi-eat expense to the Association. 

At this time the successful experiment of Blockett and 
Stephenson, in the facilitating of locomotion by the application 
of steam, was not generally known or in use, and this three 
miles of raihvay to the Neponset river was oi)erated by horse- 
power, and continued to be so until it was mostly absorbed by 
the West Quincy Branch of the Old Colony Railroad. 

May 3d, 1841. Voted, That the paupers be allowed a temper- 
ate use of ardent spirits when they work on the road, or farm. 
Ninety-six voted in favor, and eighty-six against. The paupers 
also asked of the town the privilege to sell their rations. 

February 9th, 1844. The subject of establishing a railroad 
came up at this meeting. A committee was chosen to meet the 
Legislative Committee, to make the best possible arrangement 
they could, so as to have the proposed railroad between Boston 
and Plymouth pass through the centre of the village of Quincy ; t 
and if they deemed it expedient to employ counsel. The folk)w- 
ing committee were chosen for the purpose, viz : James New- 
comb, George Clapp, Daniel Baxter, and William B. Duggan. 

As early as 1841, the question of building a Town House was 
agitated. March 3d it was voted to build a new Town House 
on land of Daniel French, provided a suitable site could be ob- 
tained for a thousand dollars. From this time to 1844 the ques- 
tion was frequently brought before the meetings Avitli various 
results. February 9th of that year the following vote was 
passed : — 

Voted, To indefinitely postpone the purchasing of the Uni- 
versalist Meeting-house for a Town Hall. It was then decided 
to build one on the old site. A motion was then made that 
when the ToAvn Hall was built it should be constructed of stone. 



108 CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 

which was decided in the negative. A committee of five was 
then chosen to procure a suitable plan for a Town House, of 
wood or stone, and estimates of the same. The committee 
chosen were as follows : Solomon Willard, John Savil, Gershom 
Clements, John A. Green and Noah Curtis. It fras recommend- 
ed that the Town House should be eighty-five feet long, includ- 
ing portico, and fifty feet wide ; and that it be built of wood. 

March 5th, 1844. The committee on the Town Hall reported 
that the cost of its construction of wood, including the cellar 
and underpinning, would be $7,587.20. They decided not to 
build on the old site by the following vote : 203 voted in favor, 
and 268 against. A motion was then made to build it on the 
Hancock lot, which was decided in the negative. 

Voted, That the Town Treasurer be authorized to purchase 
forthwith the land called the Faxon and Willett lots,^ agreeable 
to a plan exhibited to the town this day, and also to choose a 
building committee of five persons. Daniel Baxter, Benjamin 
Page, James Newcomb, John Souther, and George Veazie were 
chosen said committee. 

At an adjourned meeting the committee, through the Town 
Treasurer, made a report on purchasing the Faxon and Willett 
lots, viz: — "That in pursuance of the vote of the town, your 
committee proceeded forthwith to examine the title of the two 
lots before referred to, and found, partly by tradition and partly 
by'record, that on one or both of said lots was erected, in the 
early settlement of the town, a stone garrison house,'^ to protect 
the inhabitants from the inroads and attacks of the hostile 
Indians ; that at a subsequent date, in more peaceable times, the 
garrison house was converted into and used as a church, which 
church more than a century ago fell into decay, and another 
church was erected on the same site, and in time became disused 
and deserted." 

As soon as this report was made, a motion was offered to re- 
consider the vote to purchase these two lots, and was successful 



1. The Faxon and "Willett lots were located on the northerly corner of Han- 
cock and Canal streets. 

2. We have not been able to find any recorded, or well authenticated tradi- 
tional evidence, that a stone garrison house ever stood in this locality. 




TOWN HALL, (iUINCY. ERECTEB IN 1844. 



CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 109 

by the following vote: 327 for, 281 against reconsideration. 

April 18th, 1844. The town voted to authorize the Treasurer 
forthwith to purchase the lot of land offered to them by Mr. 
Daniel French, for the purpose of building a Town House upon, 
by the following vote : 325 for, and 229 against. To the build- 
ing committee appointed March 5th the following persons were 
added, viz : Solomon Willard, Henry Wood, George W. Beale, 
William Torrey, Abel Wright, Thompson Baxter, Levi G. Fol- 
som, Ebenezer Jewett, Jonathan Jameson, John A. Simpson. 
They were instructed to have the Town Hall completed by the 
first of November next. 

Then voted to reconsider the vote whereby the town had 

voted to build it of wood, and that it be built of stone. The 

vote for reconsideration was as follows: 31G in favor, and 223 

against. Thus ended the long and bitter strife for the selection 

of a site and the erection of the present Town House. Mr. 

Thomas Adams was instrumental in securing this result, by his 

untiring exertions among the workmen on stone, by promising 

them that if they would vote to have the Town House erected 

on the site where it now stands, it should be built of stone. By 

this chicanery he was enabled to carry his point, and change the 

location of the Town House from its former proposed site ; and 

South Quincy lost the privilege of having this public edifice con- 

stnicted within her limits. This contention left for years a 

bitter feeling between the Centre and South parts of the town. 

The cost of the construction of the stone Town House was 

$19,115.93. The following arc the principal items which went 

to make up this cost : — 

Solomon Willard, drawing plans and superintending building 

five months, S 280.00 

J. B. Whicher & Co., contract, - - 4,244.00 

AVright & Barker, « . . _ 2,573.00 

Rowland Owens, "... 2,375.00 

William Gardner, «... 2,200.00 

Ebenezer Jewett, "... 600.00 

James B. I'erkins, "... 4,654.18 

Daniel French, land fof Town House, - 1,000.00 

In 1871, the Town House was enlarged by removing the two 
ante-rooms in front of the TTnll, each side of the main entrance; 
also other alterations were made, at a total expanse of $0,478.08. 



110 CHAPTER OF ANNALS. 

This year, 1844, the following items made up the amount of 
School money : — 

Apjiropriated for Schools, - - - $3,100.00 

School Fund, 139.60 

Income of Coddington Fund, - - - 75.00 

Of this sum six hundred dollars was divided equally between 
the six districts, and the remainder according to the number of 
children in each district between the ages of four and sixteen, 
as ascertained on the 1st of May. 

Centre District, Pupils 269, 
South " " 

West " " 

Point " 

North " " 

East " ' 

April 15th, 1845. James Newcomb, Joseph Richards, and 
George Newcomb received a charter to construct a railroad from 
the quarries to Quincy Point, the number of shares not to exceed 
eight hundred. Not being able to procure sufficient capital for 
this much needed enterprise, it never was carried into operation. 



269, 


Share 


of 


Money, 


$870:27 


240 








787.24 


207 








692.74 


137 








492.30 


57 








263.23 


38 








208.60 



CEMETERIES. 



HANCOCK CEMETERY. 



" With tby rude ploughshare, Death, turn up the sod, 
And spread the farrow for the seed we sow ; 
This is the field and acre of our God; 
This is the place where human harvests grow I " — Longfellow. 

We have not been able to find by the Town Records any 
mention made as to what time the old cemetery on Hancock 
street was established. It, however, must have been as early as 
the first settlement of the town, as we find by the epitai)hs on 
the grave-stones that it was here that most of the original settlers 
were buried. Still all the dead were not depositdl here, as it 
was then the custom for many })eople to inter the dej^arted on 
their own farms or lands. 

In these early days, the austerity of the religioug views of the 
Pilgrims appears to have imbued the people with the same 
gloomy ideas in the management and selection of their grave- 
yards. These were generally on some barren plain, selected 
more for convenience than for adaptability, and cleared of its 
trees and shrubs, where the last resting-i)lace of the dead pre- 
sented a repulsive and desolate aspect, by being covered with 
obnoxious weeds and overgrown grasses. They never beautified 
their graves with flowers, shrubs and trees, both native and 
exotic ; considering the unadorned ground a more ai)i)ropriate 
resting-place for departed and loved friends. 

Tlie refinement of modern times, in adorning cemeteries with 
all that is beautiful in nature and art, is a renewal of ancient 
customs, improved by the advancement of civilization in con- 
foiming with the more congenial feelings of the human heart. 



112 CEMETEBIES. 

The old Hebrews chose some secluded and remote place for 
the interment of their dead, " with all the trees thereon, and the 
borders round about," The Romans buried their dead beside 
the Appian Way, one of their public thoroughfares, along the 
sides of which were erected sculptured monuments of their 
illustrious dead. These were not reared in common and neglect- 
ed wastes, but amid luxuriant foliage of trees and shrubs. 
" Stop, traveller ; and give a passing thought to the memory of 
departed heroes," was often found inscribed on these Roman 
monuments. 

Even the Mohammedans took their dead beyond the cities and 
villages to the place of sej^ulture, and commonly planted a 
cypress tree over the graves of their friends, which has reared 
those solemn cypress groves along the Asiatic shores of the 
Bosphorus. " In Switzerland the little burial places of the Al- 
l^ine villages were made beautiful by the unaffected love of those 
who planted flowers upon the graves of the departed, or hung 
garlands upon the simple crosses," as affection's offering for 
loved ones passed away. 

The customs and method of conducting burials by the early 
Puritans must have been repugnant to all the natural and rever- 
ential feelings of humanity towards departed kindred and 
friends. Lechford, in his "Plain Dealings," a writer of that 
day, relates thqt no prayers, sermons or singing were allowed at 
the house or the grave, in respect to the living or dead.^ 

1. "Concerning burials, this they say: All prajers, either over or for the 
dead, are not only superstitious and vain, but also are idolatry, and against 
the plain Scriptures of God. * * * Mourning in black garments] for the 
dead, if it be not hypocritical, yet it is superstitious and heathenish. Funeral 
sermons they also utterly condemn, because they are put in the place of trentals, 
and many other superstitious abuses follow thereby. To be brief, * * the 
Nonconformists will have the dead to be buried in this sort, (liolding no other 
way lawful,) namely, that it be conveyed to the place of burial, with some hon- 
est company of the church, without either singing or reading ; yea, without all 
kind of ceremony heretofore used, other than that the dead be committed to the 
grave with such gravity and sobriety as those that be present may seem to fear 
the judgments of God, and to hate sin, which is the cause of death. And thus 
do the best and right-reformed churches bury their dead, without any ceremo- 
nies of praying or preaching at them."— J. Canne's Necessitie of Separation 
(1()34,) Hans. Kuolly's Soc. Ed., p. 112-113. Comp. Mather's Ratio Disci- 
pline, 117. 



CEMETERIES. 113 

Mr. Trumbull, in his note to Lecliford, assigns as the reason 
for this custom that funeral sermons ami prayers would be 
Popish, and encourage the superstitious customs of the Catholic 
church. 

It was not until 1685, as far as we are able to learn, that 
prayer was first made at a funeral in Massachusetts.^ 

The oldest head-stone in the old cemetery is to be found at 
the grave of the first minister, Mr. William Tompson, bearing 
date December 10th, 1666. 

Most probably the first tomb constructed in this old ground 
was that of Leonard Hoar, M. D.,^ the third Presiitent of Har- 
vard College, in 1675. The inscription on this tomb was renewed 
a few years since by one of bis worthy descendants. 

1. " The first instance, as far as is known, of prayer at a funeral in Massa- 
chusetts, was at the burial of Rev. William Adams of Roxbury, August mth, 
1()85, when, as Judge Sewall noted in his diary, Mr. Wilson, minister of Med- 
field, prayed with the company before they went to the grave."— Palfrey's Hist, 
of N. E., Vol. III., p. 495, Note 1. 

2. "After the death of Mr. Channcey, which was at the latter end of the year 
1701,* the Alma Mater Academia must look among her own sons, to find a Pres- 
ident for the rest of her children ; and. accordingly, the Fellows of the Colledge, 
with the approbation of the overseers, July 1.3th, 1C72, elected Mr. Leonard 
Hoar unto that office, whereto, on the 10th of September following, he was 
inaugurated. 

"This gentleman, after his education in Harvard Colledge, travelled over 
into England, where he was not only a preacher of the gospel in divers places, 
but also received from the University in Cambridge the degree of a Doctor of 
Physick. The Doctor, upon some invitations relating to a settlement in the pas- 
toral charge with the South Church at Boston, returned into New-England, 
having first married a virtuous daughter of the Lord Lisle, a great example of 
I'lety antl patience, who now cross'd the Atlantick with him; and quickly after 
his arrival here, his invitation to preside over the Colledge at Cambridge super- 
seded those from the church in Boston. Were he considered either as a scholar 
or as a Christian, he was truly a worthy man, and he was generally reputed 
such, until happening, I can .scarce tell how, to fall under the displeasure of 
some that made a figure in the neighbourhood, the young men in the Colledge 
took advantage therefrom, to mine his reputation as far as they were able. He 
then found the Rectorship of a Colledge to be as troublesome a thing as ever 
Antigonus did his robe, and he could subscribe to Melchior Adams' account of 
it: ' Sceptrum illud scholasticuni, plus habet soliciludinis quam ]ndchritmlinis, 
plia< curcB quam auri, plus impcditnenti quam arijetiti.' (Translation,— The 
academic sceptre is more fruitful of anxiety than of pleasure, brings more care 
thau cash, more embarrassmeut than romuueratiou. ) The youny plants turned 
16 



114 CEMETERIES. 

The second tomb built, we think, was that of Edmund Quincy, 
in 1699. In Fairfield's Diary we find the following account of 
Mr. Quincy's burial : — 

"January 10th, 1697-8. Helped dig Mr. Quincy's grave. 
Frost is one and near two feet thick." 

"January 11th. Made an end of digging, bricked the grave. 
Weather warm." 

" Sejatember 16th, 1699. I carted stone for Mr. Quincy's tomb." 

The old Ministerial Tomb was erected by the Rev. Moses 
Fisk, the third minister of the First Church, in which he and 
his two wives were buried. After his death this tomb was 
selected as the ministerial sei^ulchre, in which all the ministers 
of the First Church who have died here have been interred, 
with the exception of Mr. Tompson and Mr, Flint. Over tlie 
grave of the latter was placed a large flat stone, as was then 
the custom, to prevent the wild beasts from removing the re- 
mains of the dead from their last resting-place. Not long before 
the decease of the Rev. Peter Whitney, the monument over the 
tomb was renewed by the ladies of Quincy with granite, and 
the freestone tablet that surmounted it was preserved. 

It is somewhat a wonder that any of the old grave-stones 
were left as the only mementoes of the mouldering relics of the 
first settlers of the town, as this old cemetery was uninclosed 

cud-iveeds, and, with great violations of the fifth commandment, set themselves 
to travestie whatever he did and said, and aggravated every thing in his be- 
haviour disagreeable to them, with a design to make him odious ; and in a dai/ 
of temptation, which was now upon them, several very good men did unhappily 
countenance the ungoverned youths in their uugovernableness. Things were at 
length driven to such a pass that the students deserted the Colledge, and the 
Doctor, on March 15th, 1675, resigned his Presidentship. But the hard and ill 
usage which he met withal made so deep au impression upon his mind that his 
grief threw him into a consumption, whereof he dyed November 28th, the win- 
ter following, in Boston; and he lies now interr'd at Braintree, where he might 
properly enough have this line inscribed over him for his Epitaph : Mains celeri 
sa^icius Africo. (Translation,— His masts all splintered by the driving gale.") — 
Mather's Magnalia, Sec. Am. Ed., Vol. II., p. 14. 

*This date is evidently a mistake, as Mr. Chauncey was inducted into the 
office as President of Harvard College in 1()54, and died in office February l!)th, 
1G72, but we have given it as we have found it in the Second American Edition 
of the Magnalia. 



CEMETEEIES. 115 

and used as a pasture for cattle. For nearly two centuries this 
sacrilege of pennitting cattle to roam about this depository of 
the dead, obliterating epitaphs by destroying tomb-stones, was 
allowed, until, to the honor of a few public-spirited citizens of 
the town, in 1808, viz: Peter B. Adams, John Adams, Josiah 
Quincy, Benjamin Beale, Moses Black, James Brackett and 
sons, Ebenezer Adams, Josiah Bass, Samuel Savil, Josiah Ad- 
ams, Peter Brackett, and John Hall, procured by voluntary 
subscription one hundred and fifty dollars, with which they 
purchased the right of herbage and pasturage in this cemetery 
of Ebenezer Vesey, Mottram Vesey and Mary Vesey. 

As mentioned in the Chapter of Annals, at a town meeting in 
1809, a deed was presented to the citizens of Quincy, giving 
them absolute control over this cemetery, on the following con- 
ditions : — 

" Provided^ That the inhabitants of the town shall never 
licreafter allow the said burial ground to be used as a pasture, 
or any horse, or cattle of any description, to run at large therein, 
and that it shall at all times cause a fence to be maintained 
around the said burial ground, sufiicient to exclude all cattle 
therefrom; and that no trees shall be permitted to grow within 
the said ground." 

April 4, 1842. Voted, To enlarge the cemetery, by purchas- 
ing a piece of land adjoining it of Deacon Samuel Savil, for 
eight hundred dollars. This land, not proving a suitable tract 
for burial purposes, the town sold a portion of it to the Old 
Colony Railroad Company. 

By a vote of the town April 1st, 1844, about one-half an acre 
of land, in the southerly part of the cemetery, was annexed. 
This piece of vacant land, added to the ohl burial ground, was 
where the old Town House formerly stood. 

This year the Rev. Dr. Lunt and the ladies of the Unitarian 
Society held a fair, the proceeds of which were for the })urpose 
of adorning and constructing a more suitable inclosure around 
the ground. The present a|)propriate iron fence was built from 
(he receipts of this fair. 

April 7th, 1845. The Selectmen were instructed to extend 
the wall on the north side of the burial irround. 



116 CEMETERIES. 

Burials in this old ground are still continued, by some of the 
older families. 

INSCEIPTIOJfS m HANCOCK CEMETERY. 

1666. Here lies buried the body of the Rev. Mr. William 
Tompson, the first pastor of Braintrey Church, who deceased 
December 10, 1666. ^tatis suae, 68. 

• " He was a learned, solid, sound divine. 

Whose name and fame in both Englands did shine." 

And -by his side lies Mrs. Ann Tompson, his wife, deceased 
October ye 11, 1675. Aged 68 years. 

1668. [A stone in the form of a monument lies over the re- 
mains of Mr. Flint and his wife, with another at the head, on 
which is the following inscrijDtion :] Here lies interred the body 
of the Rev. Mr. Henry Flint, who came to New England in the 
year 1635, was ordained the first teacher of the Church of Brain- 
trey 1639, and Died April 27, 1668. He had the character of a 
gentleman remarkable for his piety, learning, wisdom, and fidel- 
ity in his office. 

By him, [on his right hand,] lies the Body of Margery, his 
bdoved consort, who died March, 1686-7. Her maiden name 
was Hoar. She was a gentlewoman of piety, prudence, and pe- 
culiarly accomplished for instructing young gentlewomen, many 
being sent to her from other towns, especially from Boston. 
They descended from ancient and good families in England. 

1708. [Rev. Mr. Moses Fiske was the third minister of the 
First Church, Braintree. On his tombstone is this inscription :] 
Here rests the body of Rev. Mr. Moses Fiske, Deceased Aug. 
10th, 1708, in the 66th year of his age and 36th of his ministry. 

Braintree! Thy prophet's gone, this tomb inters 

The Rev. Moses Fiske, his sacred herse. 

Adore heaven's praiseful art that formed the man. 

Who souls not to himself, but Christ oft won : 

Sail'd through the straits with Peter's family, 

Kenown'd and Gaius' hospitality, 

Paul's patience, James' prudence, John's sweet love. 

Is landed, enter'd, clear'd, and crown'd above. 

By his side Mrs. Sarah, wife of Mr. Moses Fiske, Deceased 2 

December, 1692 ; also Mrs. Ann, wife of Mr. Moses Fiske, died 

July 24th, 1708. 



CEMETERIES. 117 

1725, [On the same tomb-stone are the following Ascrip- 
tions:] Here Rests the remains of Rev. Joseph Marsh, 4th 
minister of the 1st Congregational Church in this town. De- 
ceased March 8th, 1725-6 ; 41 year of his age, and 17th of his 
ministry. 

1744. Here Rests Rev. John Hancock, 5th minister of the 
1st Congregational Church in this town, and Father of John 
Hancock the Patriot. Deceased May 7t]», 1744, in 42 year of 
his age, and 18 of his ministry. 

1800. Rev. Mr. Anthony Wibird, 7 minister of the 1 Congre- 
gational Church in tliis town. Deceased June 4, 1800, 46th of 
his ministry, aged 72. 

1801. Here Rests the Remains of Norton Quincy, Esq. De- 
ceased Sept. 29, 1801, JEtatis 84 Years, 11 months, 2 days. 

1843. Rev. Peter Whitney, the eighth minister of the 1st 
Congregational Church in this town. Deceased March 8d, 1843, 
in the 74 Year of his age, and 44 of his ministry. 

And Mrs. Jane his wife. Deceased Nov. 11, 1832, in 57 year 
of her age. 

Abby Warren, Daughter of Rev. William P. Lunt. Deceased 
Sept. 12, 1841, ^ 15 mos., 4 days. 

167^ . Judith Reyner, Daughter to Edmund and Joanna 
Quincy. Relic of the Reverend John Reyner, late minister of 
Dover, aged 23 Years. Deceased March 8, 1674J^. 
^ 1688. Henry_Neal, aged 71 years. Died October 16th, 1688. 
The father of 21 children, 

1737. Here lyes buried the Body of Capt. Lieut. Josejih Neal. 
lie died 23d of December, 1737, in ye 78 jpar of his age. 

1746. Here lyes buried ye Body of Mr. Benjamin Neal, who 
Died June 12th, 1746, in 78 year of his age. 

1747. Here lyes buried ye Body of Mary Neal, widow of 
C^jt. Lieut. Joseph Neal. Died April 18, 1747, aged 83 years. 

1747. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. Benjamin Neal, who died 
December 5, 1747, in ye 54 year of his age. 

1730, Here lies ye Body of Mrs. Mchctable Neal, the wife of 
Mr. Benj. Neal. She died Sept. 16, 1730, in the 29 year of her 
age. 



118 CEMETERIES. 

167^ In memory of Mrs. Sarah Tompson, late wife of Mr. 
Samuel Tompson, aged 43 yeai-s. Deceased Jan. 15, 1679. 

1695. In memory of Mr. Sajnue) Tomj^son, who was Deacon 
of Braintry Church, aged 64 years. Deceased June 18, 1695. 

1706. Here lyes buried ye Body of Elizabeth Tompson, wife 
of Deacon Samuel Tompson of Braintry, aged 69 years. Died 
Nov. 5, 1706. 

1713. Sarah Tompson, Daughter of Hannah Tompson, Died 
October 1713, in ye 12 year of her age. 

1680. Here lyes buried the Body of Grace, the late wife 
of John French, aged 59 years. Deceased Febuary ye 28, in 
ye year 1680. 

1681. Here lyes buried ye Body of Mr. William Veazay, aged 
65. Died ye 16 June, 1681. 

1683. Here lyeth buried ye Body of Roger Billings, senior, 
aged 65 years. Departed this life ye 15 day of November, 1683. 

1684. Here lyeth ye Body of Sarah Hayward, aged 4 years. 
Died June ye 23, 1684. 

1690. Here lyeth ye Body of Mr. Jonathan Hayward, aged 
49 years. Died November ye 21, 1690. 

1734. Here lyeth ye Body of Mr. Jonathan Hayward, son 
to Mr. Jonathan Hayward, who died September 12, aged 40 
years, 1734. 

1745. Here lyeth ye Body of Mrs. Ruth Hayward, wife to 
Jonathan Hayward, Deceased June 22, 1745, 29 year of her age. 

1688. In memory of Thankful, Daughter of William and 
Ann Rawson, Born in Dorchester Aug. 6, 1688, and Dyed 
August 21, 1688. ^ 

1692, In memory of Ebenezer, son of William and Ann 
Rawson, aged four months. Deceased 28 August, 1692. 

1690. Here lyeth buried y^^ body of Capt. Richard Brackett, 
Deacon, aged 80 years. Deceased March 5, 1690. 
-H 1690. Here lyeth y® Body of Joseph, the sou to Joseph, and 
Waiting Penniman, who was borne in the year 1670, and De- 
ceased 1090. 

1690-1. Here lyes ye Body of Lieutenant Robert Twelves, 
Deceased March 2, 1690-1, aged 80 years. 

The memory of the Just is Blessed. 



CEMETERIES. 119 

1695. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. Joseph Crosby, who Died 
November 20, 1095, aged 50 years. 

Dedicated 

To tlie meinory of Joseph Adams, senior, who died December 
0, 1094, aged 08. 

And his wife, whose first name was Baxter, who died Aug. 27, 
1092, aged 58. Tliis tomb Erected by a great-grandson in 1817. 

In memory of Henry Adams, who took his fliglit from the 
Dragon persecution in Devonshire, in Enghind, and alighted with 
eight sons near Mount Wollaston. One of the sons returned to 
England, and, after taking time to explore the country, four 
moved to Medfield and the neighboring towns ; two to Chelms- 
ford ; one only, Josei)h, who lies here at his left hand, remained, 
Avlio was an original Proprietor in the township of Braintree, 
incorporated in the year 1039. 

This stone and several others have been placed in this yard 
by a great-great-grandson, from a veneration of the Piety, humil- 
ity, simplicity, prudence, patience, temperance, frugality, indus- 
try and i^erseverance, of his Ancestors, in hopes of Recom- 
mending an imitation of their virtues to their posterity. 

In memory of Joseph Adams, son of Joseph Adams senior, 
and grandson of Henry and of Hannah his wife, whose maiden 
name was Bass, and daughter of Thomas Bass and Ruth Alden, 
parents of John Adams, and grandparents of the Lawyer John 
Adams. 

Erected December, 1823. 

1736. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. Joseph Adams, who died 
Feb. 12, 1730, aged 84 years. • 

1739. In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, widow of Mr. 
Josei)h Adams, who died Feb. 14, 1739, aged 71, years. 

1751. Here lies interred the remains of Mr. Samuel Adams 
who deceased 17th of July A. D. 1751, in the 57 year of his age. 

The meinory of the just is Blessed. 

1761. In memory of Mr. Boylston Adams, who died Decem- 
ber 1701, aged 70 years. 

1777. In memory of Sarah Adams, wife of Samuel Adams, 
Avho died June 23, 1777, in the 80 year of her age. 



120 CEMETERIES. 

1769. Here lies ye Body of Mr. Micajah Adams, who Died 
June 18th, 1769, aged 77 years. 

1778. In memory of Mr. Moses Adams, who died October 9, 
1778, in the 46 year of his age. 

j^lg^. Sacred to the memory of John Adams, who died May 
25, A. D. 1761, aged 70 years. And of Susanna, his Consort, 
Born Boylston, who Died April 17, A. D. 1797, aged 88. 

The sweet remembrance of the just, 
Should flourish when they sleep in dust. 

1699. In memory of Mr. Lawrence Copeland, who Died Dec. 
30, 1699, 100 years old. 

1675. [This monument is erected over the remains of the. 
learned Leonard Hoar, M. D., the third president of Harvard 
College. The following curious inscription is on this tomb, but 
hard to identify, such have been the ravages of time :] 

Epitaph wrote for the Tomb of 

Leonard Hoar Doctour of 

Phisicke who departed this life 

In Boston the 28 November, 

Was interred here the 6 December 

And was aged 45 years, 

Anno Dom, 1675. 

Three precious friends under this tombstone lie 

Pattern to aged, youth, and infancy, 

A great mother, her learned son, with child. 

The first and least went free, he was exil'd. 

In love to Christ, this Country, and dear friends, 

He left his own*cross'd seas, and for amends 

Was here extoU'd, envy'd, all in a breath. 

His noble consort leaves, is drawn to death. 

Strange changes may befall us ere we die, 

]51est they who well arrive eternity. ^ 

God grant some names, O thou New England's friend, 

Don't sooner fade than thine, if times don't mend. 

1723. Died in Boston, May 25, 1723, Dame Bridget Usher, 
formerly wife of Dr. Leonard Hoar. Was brought hither from 
Boston, and interred in the same grave, May 30, 1723, according 
to her desire. 



CJ3;METElilE^5. 121 

1692. Ill memory of Mr. Francis Newcomb, who Died May 
27, 1092, aged 100 years. 

1680. Here Lyclh IJurriod ye Body of Mrs. Joanna Quinoy, 
ye wife of Mr. Edmund Qiiiney, aged 55 years. Died 16tli of 
May, 1680. 

1775. [In the immediate vicinity of tlie tomb wliero lies 
interred Josiali (Juincy, Jr., is a marble monument, surmounted 
with an urn, and upon its east side is inscribed tlie following 
epitaph, written by John Qnincy Adams :] 

Sacred 

To the memory 

of 

Josiah Quincy, Jan., 

Late of Boston, Barrister at law, 

Youngest son of Josiah Quincy, Late of this town, Plsquire. 

Brilliant talents, uncommon eloquence, & indefatigable application 

Raised him to the highest eminence in his profession. 

His early enlightened, inflexible attachment to 

The cause of his country, 

Is attested by monuments more durable than this, 

And transmitted to posterity 

By well-known productions of his Genius. 

He was Born the 23d Feb., 1744, 

And died the 26th April, 1775. 

His mortal remains are here deposited. 

With those of Abigail his Wife, 

Daughter of William Phillips, Esquire, 

Born 14th April, 1745. 

Died 25th March, 1798. 

Stranger, 

In contemplating this monument as the frail tribute of filial 

gratitude and affection, 

Glows thy bold breast with patriotic Ihunc? 
Let his example point the paths of fame; 
Or seeks thy heart, averse from public strife, 
The milder graces of domestic life; 
Her kindred virtues let thy soul revere, 
And o'er the best of mothers drop a tear. 
17 



122 CEMETERIES. 

[On the north side of the same monument can be seen the 
following inscription :] 

Josiah Quincy, Jun., 

Born 23d of February, 1744, 

Died 26th of April, 1775. 

And 

Abigail Quincy, 

His Wife, 

Born 14th of April, 1745, 

Died 25th of March, 1798. 

To 

There united and beloved 

Memory 
This Monument is erected, 

By 
Their only surviving child. 

"^ 1705. Here lyeth ye Body of Deacon Joseph Penniman, 
aged 05 years. Deceased November y" 5, 1705. 
^ 1718. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. Moses Penniman, aged 
about 42 years. Died July 29, 1718. 

1690. Here lyeth Buried ye Body of Capt. Richard Brackett, 
Deacon, aged 80 years. Deceased March 5, 1690. 

1718. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. James Brackett, who Died 
ye 8 day of April, 1718, in ye 73 year of his age. 

[The following six individuals are buried in the Brackett 
family tomb :] 

1713. Nathaniel Brackett, who died 1713, aged 66 years. 

1781. Mr. James Brackett, his son, who died 1781, aged 72 
years. 

1791. Mr. Ebenezer Brackett, son of said James Brackett, 
who died 1791, aged 43 years. 

1794. Dr. Ebenezer Brackett, wlio died 1794, aged 21 years. 

1797. Samuel E. Brackett, Avho died 1797, aged 19 years. 

1802. Mrs. Betsey Brackett, Wife of Mr. Charles Brackett, 
who died 1802, aged 25 years. 

This tomb repaired by Mr. Lemuel Brackett, 1844. 



CEMETERIES. 123 

1785. In memory oLMiss Snrah Brackctt, third daughter of 
Mr. Janios and Mary Brackctt. 

Ilcr death was from fever. 
Died Oct. 31, 1785. jEt. 18 Years. 

1786. In memory of Mrs. Mary Brackctt, and daughter of 
Mr. John Spear, Consort of Mr. James Brackctt. She died Con- 
sumptive, July 10, 1786, in the 48 year of her age. 

The mother of 10 Children. 

1789. Mrs. Polly Odiorne, Wife of Mr. George Odionie, of 
Boston, and eldest Daughter of Mr. James and Mary Brackctt. 
Died July 15, 1789, in the 37th year of her age. 

1690. Here lyes Buried the Body of Mr. Stephen Pain, aged 
38 years. Deceased ye 24th of May, 1690. 

1743. Here lyes the Body of Mary, Wife of Deacon Moses 
Pain, aged 78, who died July ye 4, 1743. 

1746. Here lyes the Body of Deacon Moses Pain, ^vTlo died 
June the 22, 1746, 87 year of his age. 

1690-1. Here lyes ye Bodjr of Deborah, ye Daughter of Ed- 
mund and Sarah Sheffield, aged 23 years. Died January yo 18th, 
1690-1. 

1692. Stephen Cleverly, aged 19 years. Died March 
ye 10th, 1692. 

1694. Here lyes the Body of Sarah, ye wife of Mr. John 
Clevei-ly, aged 54 years. Deceased October ye 25, 1694. 

1763. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Lieut. John Cleverly, 
aged 68 Years. Departed His life May the 5, 1763. 

1786. In memory of Mrs. Sarah Cleverly, who died April 27, 
1786, in the 50 year of her age. 

1806. In memory of Mr. Stephen Cleverly, Deceased June 
16th, 1806, aged 75 years. 

1708. Stephen, Son of Mr. John and Mary Marshall, aged 2 
years. Died September 2, 1708. 

1704. Here lyes the Body of Elizabeth Ilobart, Wife to Mr. 
Caleb Ilobart, aged 71 years. Died August ye 9, 1704. 

1711. Here lyes the Body of Mr. Caleb Ilobart, aged about 
89 years. Died September ye 24, 1711. 

1713. Here lyes liuricd the Body of Joshua llubart, aged 
about 74 years. Died December ye 28, 1713. 



124 CEMETERIES. 

17U4. Here lyes the Body of Sarah, i)aughter to Mr. Daniel 
and Mary Willard, aged about 15 monthly. Died August 
ye 31, 1704. 

1711. In memory of Mrs. Lydia Saunders,^ who died March 
the 9tb, 1711, at 12 O'Clock A. M., in a good old age. 

1816. Susanna Saunders, youngest Daughter of Mr. William 
and Ann Saunders, Who Died May 19th, 1816, aged 20 years. 

1822. In memory of Miss Elizabeth Saunders, Daughter of 

Mr. William and Mrs. Ann Saunders, who died Nov. 27, 1822, 

aged 28. 

" Welcome sweet hour of full discharge, 
That sets our longing souls at large, 
Unbinds our chains, breaks up our cells, 
And gives us with our God to dwell." 

1826. x\nn. Wife of William Saunders, and eldest daughter 
of Dr. Elisha Savil, Who died April 2, 1826, aged 72 years. 

" No mortal woes 
Can reach the peaceful sleeper here, 
"While angels watch ber soft repose." 

1880. Mr. William Saunders ; He was a Native of this Town. 
Died October 27, 1830, aged 83 years. 

1711. Here lyes yc Body of Mrs. Elinor French, Wife of Mr. 
John French, aged 85 Years. Deceased April 23, 1711. 

1713. Here lies ye Body of Mr. Samuel Spear, Deceased 
December 24, 1713, in the 55 year of his age. 

The memory of thy life is blessed. 

1732. Here lies Buried ye Body of Mr. Nathaniel Spear, who 
Deceased December 3d, 1732, in ye 41 year of his age. 

1776. In memory of Mr. John Spear, who died July 5, 1776, 
in the 66 year of his age. 

1780. In memory of Mrs. Hannah Spear, Wife of Mr. Wil- 
liam Spear, who died Ai)ril 10, 1780, Mt. 70 years. 

The present monument Erected by her Grandson, Daniel 
Spear, Nov. 1827. 

1782, In memory of Mr. William Spear, AVlio died July 13th, 
1782, ^t. 74. 

1. Mrs. Saunders' death was very sudden. She sank down in her seat and 
died instantly, in the Houkg of God in the time of divine service. 



CEMETERIES. 125 

1787. In memory of Mrs. Judith S])ear, wife of Lieut. Setli 
Spear, wlio died July 10, 1787, aged 41 years. The motlier of 
13 ehihlrcn. 

Here's one who lived in peace on earth, 

And here's her sleeping dust; 
The sonl we trust in Heaven is 

And reigns amoung the Just. 

1795. Erected to the memory of Elizabeth Spear, Daughter 
of Mr. Seth and Judith Spear. Died August 25th, 1795, aged 
1-4 years. 

Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a 
day may bring forth. 

1802. In memory of Stephen S])ear, who died April 20, 1802, 
^t. 60 years. 

1802. In memory of Elinor Spear, Avho died May 14, 
A. D. 1802, ^Et. 66 years. 

1802. Here lies the Body of Jason Spear, Obt. on Georges 
Island of the Quinzy, the 23d of June, 1802, ^t. 6 years, 1 
month. 

1750. Here lyes Buried ye Body of William Bass, the Son of 
Mr. Samuel Bass, who died October the 15th, 1756, aged 3 years. 

1702. John Bass, aged 12 days. Died ye 31 of Env. [?], 1702. 

1714. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. William Nightingale, aged 
about 77 years. Died May ye 10, 1714. 

1715. Here lyes ye Body of Joseph, ye sou of Mr. Joseph 
and Hannah Nightingale, aged 2 years and months. Died 
July 29th, 1715. 

1718. Here lyes ye Body of Hannah, the wife of Mr. Josei)h 
Nightingale. Died Oct. ye 11, 1718, in ye 27 year of her age. 

1725-6. Hero lyes ye Body of Joseph Nightingale, who De- 
ceased June 17th, 1725-6, in yo 49 year of his age. 

1717. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. Ebenezer Ilayden, aged 73 
years. Died Feb. ye 13, 1717. 

1718. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. John Uuggles, Deceased 
January ye 25th, 1718, in ye 56 year of his age. 

1741. Here lies the Body of Mrs. Mary Kuggles, Wi<low of 
Mr. John Uuggles, who died Aug. 8th, 1741, in ye 72 year of her 
ase. 



126 CEMETERIES. 

1744. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mrs. Mary Rv;ggles, the 
wife of Mr. Josiah Ruggles, who was the Daughter of Mr. John 
Clough of Boston, aged 21 years, who died June 28th, Anno 
Dom. 1744. 

1761. Here lies Buried the Body of Mr. Josiah Ruggles, who 
died June 5th, 1761, aged 48 years. 

lu the cold mansions of the silent Tomb 
How still tlie Solitude ! How deep the Gloom ! 
Here sleeps the Dust; unconscious, close-confined, 
But far, far distant dwells the mortal mind. 

1779. Here Hes Buried the Body of Mr. John Ruggles, who 
died the 15th July, 1779. 

1780. In memory of Mrs. Sarah Ruggles, widoAV of Mr. John 
who died January 22, 1780, in the 83 year of her age. 

1719. Here lyes ye Body of Lieut. John Baxter, aged 80 
years. Died April ye 20, 1719. 

1762. In memory of Mrs. Mehitable Baxter, wife of Mr. John 
Baxter, who Died March 8, 1762, aged 57 years. 

1763. Here lies Buried the Body of Mr. Gregory Baxter, who 
departed this life January the 9, 1763, aged 5,8 years. 

1774. In memory of Mr. Daniel Baxter, who Departed this 
life September the 9, 1774, aged 44 years. 

An honest man is the noblest work of God. 

1777. In memory of Mr. Samuel Baxter, who died Feb. 21, 
1777, aged 61 years. 

1777. In memory of Mr. John Baxter, who died August 30, 
1777, nged 80 years. 

1784. In memory of Mrs. Anna Baxter, wife of Capt. Joseph 
Baxter, and Daughter of Mr. John Adams of Milton, who died 
1784, Sept. 5, aged 40 years. 

1792. In memory of Miss Sarah Baxter, who died April 27, 
1792, in yo 22 year of her age. The daughter of John and Mrs. 
Susannah Baxter. 

1794. In memory of Mrs. Lydia Baxter, Relic of Mr. Samuel 
Baxter. She died May 25, 1794, yEt. 63. 

1789. In memory of Mrs. Mary Baxter, widow of Mr. Greg- 
ory Baxtijr, who died Aug. 11, 1789, in the 88 year of her age. 



CEMETERIES. 127 

1702. Ill memory of Wilson, Son to Mr. Gregory and Mrs. 
Mary Baxter, who died January 13, 1702, aged 1 year, 7 montlis, 

1796. In memory of Mrs. lilioda Baxter, wife of Mr. Ed- 
ward Baxter, who died Feb. 27th, 179G, in the 40 year of lier age. 

1791. In memory of Barnabas Baxter, Son to Mr. Samuel 
Baxter, who died May 22, 1791, aged 14 years. 

1805. In memory of Capt. Seth Baxter, who died August 
8th, 1805, in 74 year of his age. 

1817. In memory of Mrs. Jerusha Baxter, wife of Capt. 
Joseph Baxter, who died Sept. 20, 1817, aged 72. 

1820. In memory of Capt. Joseph Baxter, who died May the 
7, 1820, ^t. 89 years. 

182.3. In memory of Mr. Edward Baxter, who died Oct. 25, 
1823, in the 68 year of his age. 

Though many years iu health be spent, 
'Tis a short time God has lent; 
And often has this truth been found, 
Death in a moment cuts us down. 

1726. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Hannah Savill,^ ye widow 
of Mr. Samuel Savill, aged 74 years. Died November 15th, 1726. 

1729-30. Here lies Job Savill, Son to Deacon Samuel Savill 
and Mrs. Patience his wife. He died March 20th, 1729-30, in 
the 8th year of his age. 

1768. Erected in memory of Doct. Elisha Savill. He died 
Ajjril ye 30, A. D. 1768, in ye 44 year of his age. 

Amoung the sick I spent my time, 

My Flower of life; but in my prime, 

A little after it was noon, 

My Sun it set so very soon, 

I had not time to take of you, 

My dear Sick friends, my last adieu. 

1794. Erected in memory of Mrs. Ann Thayer, widow of 
Ensign Thomas Thayer, and formerly wife of Doctor Klisha 
Savill, who died July 11th, 1794, aged 63 years. 

1. In spelling the name of Savill I have taken the liberty of adding another 
L. This is in accordance with the correct orthography of the name, as found in 
the early records of the town, and Burke's Heraldry. Why some of the descend- 
ants have dropped the L, 1 have not been able to ascertain.— [Author. 



128 CBMETEEIES. 

1758. Here lies ye Body of Mrs. Abigail Savill, wife to Mr. 
Samuel Savill. She Died September 21, 1758, in ye 34 year of 
her age. 

1761. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. Samuel Savill, Jun. He 
Died May 1st, 1761, aged 44 years. 

1730. Here lyes Buried ye body of Benjamin Webb, who 
departed this life March 2d, 1730, aged 7 years. 

1752. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Dr. Nathan Webb, who 
departed this life February ye 26th, 1752, aged 25 years. 

1776. In memory of Mrs. Bathsheba Webb, Consort of Dea- 
con Jonathan Webb, who died Nov. 22d, 1776, the 80th year of 
her age. 

1789. In memory of Deacon Jonathan Webb, who Departed 
this life Sept. 16th, 1789, in the 92d year of his age. 

1793. In memory of Elizabeth Webb, widow of the late 
Deacon Jonathan Webb, Dec. Obt. March 1, 1793, ^t. 82 
years. 

1806. In memory of Abigail Webb, Avidow of Peter Bick- 
nell, who Died September 29th, 1806, ^Et. 25 years. 

1821. Miss Nancy Webb, died May 17th, 1821, JEt. 43 years, 
and Daughter of Jon and Nancy Webb. 

1826. Sacred to the memory of Deacon Jonathan Webb, who 
died June 19th, 1826, aged 74 years. 

1835. In memory of Nancy Webb, wife of Dea. Jonathan 
Webb, who Died Jan. 14th, 1835, ^t. 84 years. 

1840. In memory of Miss Lucy Webb, Daughter of Deacon 
Jonathan and Mrs. Nancy Webb, who Died Jan. 26, 1840, 
iEt. 40. 

1843. Sacred to the memory of Miss Eunice B. Webb, 
Daughter of Deacon Jonathan Webb and Mrs. Nancy Webb, 
who died July 1, 1843, ^t. 53 years. 

Thou art gone to the grave, but we will uot deplore thee, 
Though sorrow aud darkuess encompass the tomb ; 
Thy Saviour has passed through its portals before thee, 
Aud the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom. 

1741. Here lies Buried ye Body of Mrs. Mehitable Fisher, 
wife of Mr. Josiah Fisher. She died May 18th, 1741, in the 78 
year of her age. 



CEMETERIES. 129 

1737. Here lies y« l>o(ly of I\Irs. Anna White, wife of Mr. 
Sanmol Wliite, aged 68 years. Deceased Feb. 13th, 1737-8. 

1737. In memory of Mr. Joseph Parmonter, \vlio died Feb. 
20th, 1737, in the 82 year of his age.^ 

1750. Jonathan, son of Mr. Josiali and Mrs. Charity Capen. 
lie died October yo 3, 1750, in the 8 year of his age. 

1753. Here lies Buried ye Body of Mr. Benjamin Beale, who 
departed this life September, 1753, aged S4 years. 

1758. Here lies Buried ye Body of Mrs. Abigail Beale, wife 
of Capt. Benjamin Beale, who departed this life May the Oth, 
1758, aged 30 years. 

1793. In memory of Jonathan, son to Mr. Jonathan and 
Mrs. Mariah Beale. He died Jan. 21, 1793, in ye 3 year of his 
age. 

1794. In memory of Mrs. Thcodocia Chorley, wife of Capt. 
John W. Chorley, and daughter of Mr. Joseph Beale and Mrs. 
Lily his wife, who died July 19th, 1794, aged 19 years. 

How loved, how valued ouce, avails thee not 
To whome related, or by whome begot ; 
A heap of dust alone remains of thee, 
'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be. 

1792. In memory of Mrs. Anna Beale, wife of Capt. Benja- 
min Beale, who died January ye 16th, 1792, in ye 74 year of 
her age. 

1780. In memory of Elisha Beale, son of Mr. Joseph Beale 
and Lilye his wife, who died June 10, 1780, in the 10 month of 
his age. 

1794. In memory of Thomas Swift B., son of Mr. Jonathan 
J>eale and Mrs. Mariah his wife, who died September 24th, 1794, 
aged 1 year, 6 months, 21 days. 

1793. In memory of Capt. Benjamin Beale, who died April 
3d, 1793, in the 91 year of his age. 

Old age, with all lier dismal train, 

Invades our f^olden years 
With sighs, and groans, and raging pain, 

And death, which never Spares. 

1. Mr. Joseph Parmenter's death occurred very suddenly, ho liaving dropped 
down dead in the pulpit, at the time of church service. 

18 



\^ 



130 CEMETERIES. 

1797. Mr. Joseph Beale, departed this life July 23, 1797, 

^tat. 54. 

Mercy, Good Lord, Mercy I crave, 

This is the total sum; 
For mercy, Lord, is all my suit. 

Lord, let thy mercy come! 

1836. Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Lilly Beale, widow of 
Mr. Joseph Beale, who died Feb. 10, 1836, ^t. 84 years. 

1753. Here lies Buried ye Body of Mrs. Bethiah Adams, wife 
of Mr. Peter Adams, & Daughter of Deacon Samuel Sauel. She 
died October 23, 1753, aged 33. 

1754. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mrs. Hannah Belcher, 
wife of Lieut. Nathaniel Belcher, who departed this life Feb. 3, 
1754. 

1761. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mrs. Sarah Belcher, 
ye wife of Lieut. Natha. Belcher. She died June 24th, 1761, in 
ye 61 year of her age. 

1800. In memory of Mr. Elijah Belcher, who departed this 
life June 1, 1800, ^tat 70 years. 

1754. Here lyes ye Body of Mary Belcher, daughter of Mr. 
John Glover, of Dorchester, who departed this life November 2, 

1754. 

1757. Here lies Buried the Body of Mrs. Elizabeth Glover, 
wife of Capt. Elisha Glover, the Daughter of Thomas Glover of 
Dorchester, who died the 12 day of May, 1757, aged 18 years 
and 8 months. 

1758. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. Thomas Glover, of 
Dorchester, who departed this life June ye 16th, A. D. 1758, 

aged 67 years. 

My God, my all, Sufficient Good, 

My portion and my choice ; 
In thee my vast desires are fill'd. 

Add all my powers rejoice. 

1768. Here lyes ye Body of Mr. John Glover, who died July 
6th, 1768, aged 81 years. 

In the cold mansions of the silent tomb. 
How still the Solitude, How deep the Gloom, 
Here sleeps the dust, unconscious, close confined. 
But far, far distant dwells the immortal mind. 



CEMETERIES. 



131 



1775. In memory of Mrs. M^jy Glover, wife of Mr. John 
Glover, who died Dec'r 19th, 1775, JEt. 71. • 

Completely shono through every scene of life, 

A tender parent and a virtuous wife, 

Though her loved form lies mouldering in the Tomb, 

In happier climes her kindred virtues bloom. 

1783. In memory of Mrs. Sarah Glover, wife of Mr. Eben- 
ezer Glover, and daughter of Dea. Benjamin and Mrs. Ester 
Wadsworth of Milton, who died Jan. ye 8th, 1783, in 35 year of 

lier age. ^ 

Stop here, my Friend, and cast an iiye, 

As you are now so once was I ; 

As I am now so must you be, 

Prepare for death and follow me . 

1792. In memory of Mr. Ezra Glover, who died January 1st, 
1792, aged 66 years. 

My flesh shaU'slumber in the ground 
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound, 
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise 
And in my Saviour's image rise. 

1796. In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Glover, widow of Mr. 
Thomas Glover, who died Jan. 10th, 1796, aged 92 years. 

1797. In memory of Mr. William Glorer, Avho died March 
7th, 1797, in the 66 year of his age. 

Remember me as you pass on; 

As you are now so once was I, 
As I am now so you must be, 

Therefore, prepare to die. 

1808. In memory of Sarah Glover, daughter of Mr. Nathan- 
iel & Mrs. Ester Glover, who died May 28th, 1808, aged 11 years. 

Crop'd a bud from yonder tree, 
• She is gone to rest, from trouble free. 

1803. In memory of Mr. Josiah Glover, who died Dec-ember 
14th, 1803, aged 77 years. 

Great God, I own the sentence just, 

And nature must decay, 
I yield my body to the dust. 

To dwell with fellow clay. 



132 CEMETERIES. 

1800. In memory of Polley Glover, daughter of Mr. Wil- 
liam ani Mrs. Mary Glover, who died the 12th of December, 
1800, ill the 16tli year of her age. 

'Tis God who lifts our comforts high, 

Or sinks them in the grave, 
He gives, and hlessed be his Name, 

He takes but what he gave. 

1807. Ill memory of Mr. Ebenezer Glover, who died Dec. 
25th, 1807, aged 71 years. 

Our life is ever on the wing, 

And death is ever nigh, 
The moment when our life begins, 

We all begin to die. - 

1813. In memory of Mrs. Glover, widow of Mr. William 
Glover, who died November the 11th, 1813, ^t. G3 years. 

And must this body die, 

This mortal frame decay. 
And must these active limbs of mine. 

Lie mouldering in the clay? 

1814. In memory of Eliza, daughter of Mr. Josiah & Mrs. 
Sophia J. Glover, who died March 23d, 1814, aged 11 months. 

1815. In memory of Mr. Benjamin Glover, Avho died March 

21, aged 40 yeai-s. 

Friends nor physicians could not save, 
My mortal body from the grave ; 
Nor can the grave confine me here. 
When Christ shall call me to appear. 

1819. In memory of Mary D. Glover, Daughter of Mr. Eli- 
sha and Mrs. Mary Glover, who died December 17, 1819, iEt. 4 
years. 

1820. In memory of Mrs. Mary Glover, wife of Josiah Glover, 
Avho died 1820, aged 82 years. 

Our life is ever on the wing, 

And death is ever nigh ; 
The moment our life begins. 

We all begin to die. 

1883. In memory of Mrs. Mary Glover, lielict of Mr. 
Jibeneger Glover, who died June 7th, 1833, iEt. 82 years. 



CEMETERIES. 133 

1754. Here lyes the Body of Mrs. Lydia Brackett, tlic wife 
of Ca]»t. Richard Brackett, who died April 6th, 1754, aged 43 
years. 

1793. In memory of Capt. Moses Brackett, who died July 
24th, 1798, aged 76 years. 

1805. In memory of Mrs. Mary Brackett, widow of Capt. 
Moses Brackett, who died Oct. 24th, 1805, ^t. 76, Formerly 
wife of Mr. Martin Ricker. 

1818. In memory of Rachel Brackett, wife of Capt. Joseph 
Brackett, wlio died August 5, 1818, aged 72 years. 

1821. In memory of Capt. Joseph Brackett, who died Nov. 
18, 1821, aged 79 years. 

1826. Sacred to the memory of INIr. Moses Brackett, who 
died April 21, JEt. 74. 

1827. Sacred to the memory of Capt. Peter Brackett, who 
died Jan. 3, 1827, aged 72 years. 

1835. In memory of Mrs. Theodora Clark, Born 1763, Feb. 
1, Died Aug. 9, 1835. 

Spirit of the loved one blest, 
In thy peaceful slumbers rest, 
Till the great decisive day, 
God calls to life thy sleeping clay. 

1777. In memory of Edmund Clark, son of Capt. James 
Clark, and Mary his wife, who died July 13, 1777, aged 5 years. 

1799. In memory of Capt. James Clark, who died Nov. 3, 
1799, aged 71 years. 

1822. In memory of Mrs. IMnry Clark, wife of Capt. James 
Clark, who died March 1, 1822, aged 89. 

When such pure spirits yield to death, 
No fears the Christian mind Controul, 

'Tis but resigning mortal breath 
To reign immortal in the soul. 

1827. In memory of Henry H. Clark, who died July 12, 1827, 
^t. 29 years. 

1766. Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mrs. Sarah Hall, wife of 
Lef. efohn Hall, Avho died Feb. the 23, 1766, aged 60 years. 

1780. In memovv of Lieut. .John Hall, Avho died Sept. 27, 
1780, in yo 83 year of his age. 



134 CEMETERIES. 

1770. Hero lyes Buried Mrs. Sarah Vesey, the wife of Mr. 
William Vesey. She died December 15th, 1770, aged 58 years. 

1787". Here lies Buried the Body of Mr. William Vesey, who 
died the 23d of May, 1787, ^t. 79. 

1802. Erected in memory of Miss Sarah Vesey, who died 
July 29th, 1802, aged 67 years. 

1802. Erected in memory of Mr. William Vesey, who died 
Apr. 7, 1802, aged 63 years. 

1772. Here lies interred the Body of Mrs. Deborah Field, 
Consort of Mr. Benjamin Field, who died Feb. 4, 1772, in the 
24 year of her age. 

1790. In memory of Mrs. Mehitable Field, wife of Mr. Joseph 
Field, who died June 28, 1790, in ye 42 year of her age. 

1791. In memory of Polly Brown, Daughter to Capt. Samuel 
and Mrs. Susannah Brown. She died May 15th, 1791, aged 9 
months. ' 

1798. In memory of Mr. Samuel Brown, Jun., Avho died 
September 29, 1798, ^t. 23. 

Stop, my Friend! Come think on me; 
I once was in the world like thee ; 
But now lie slumbering in the dust, 
In hopes to rise amount the Just. 

1794. In memory of Mr. Solomon Thayer, who died August 
8th, 1794, aged 36 years. 

1698. Here lyeth ye Body of Lieut. Alexander Marsh, aged 
about 70 years, Dec'd March 7th, 1698. 

This inscription renewed by Wilson Marsh, his great-grand- 
son, 1824. 

1799. In memory of Mrs. Abigail Marsh, wife of Mr. Wilson 
Marsh, who died April 19th, 1799, aged 83 years. 

1804. In memory of Mrs. Miriam Marsh, wife of Mr. Jona- 
than Marsh, and daughter of Mr. Moses and Mrs. Pheebe Reed, 
of Abington, who died May 24, 1804, aged 47 years. 

Lean not on earth, 'twill pierce thoe to the heart; 

A broken reoil at best, and oft a Spear, , 

On whose Sharp point peace bleeds, and hope expires. 

1814. In memory of Mr. Ambrose Marsh, who died June 
25th, 1814, aged 24 years. 



CEMETERIES. 135 

1797. In memory of Susannah, daughter of Mr, Wilson and 
Susanna Marsli, who died April 6th, 1797, aged 4 years. 

1798. In memory of Mr. Wilson Marsh, who died May 20th, 
1798, aged 88 years. 

1831. Erected to the memory of Miss Anna Marsh, Daughter 
of Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Susannah Marsh, wlio died July 29, ■ 

1831, ^t. 47. " 

Can the world one joyous thought bestow 
To friendship weeping at the Couch of Woe? 
No ! but a brighter soothes their last adieu. 
Soul of impassioned mould, she speaks to you! 
Weep not, she says, at nature's transient pain, 
Congenial spirits part to meet again. 

1814. Ambrose, son of Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. Sophia Marsh, 
who died December 15th, 1814, aged 6 weeks. 

1815. In memory of Mrs. Susannah Marsh, wife of Mr, Wil- 
son Marsh, who died June 1, 1815, uEt. 59 years. 

1822, In memory of Mr. Jonathan Marsh, who died Nov. 6, 
1822, aged 70 years. 

In memory 

of 

Elisha Marsh, 

Son of Wilson and 

Susanna Marsh, 

Who Died 
April 17th, 1847, 

Aged 65. 
A kind husband ; 

A firm friend ; 

A valuable citizen. 

Erected 

By his wife, 

As a testimonial 

Of his virtues. 

And her affectionate 

Remembrance. 

''Then .shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the 
spirit shall return to God who gave it." 



136 CEMETERIES. 

1828. Sacred to the memory of Mr. Wilson M.irsh, who died 
July 7th, 1828, aged 78 years. 

1827. Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Sophia Marsh, wife of 
Mr. Jonathan Marsh, and daughter of Mr. Seth and Mrs. Abigail 
Spear, who died August 29, 1827, ^t. 37 years. 

1855. Susannah Savill Marsh, daughter of Wilson and Su- 
sannah Marsh, who died March 29th, 1855, in the sixty-first year 
of her age.^ 

1841. Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Patience Marsh, wife of 
Mr. Jonathan Marsh, formerly wife of Mr. Whitman Bailey, and 
daughter of Mr. Henry and Mrs. Elizabeth Crane, who died 
August 13th, 1841, JEt. 51 years. 

1845. Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Emily Marsh, wife of 
Mr. Charles Marsh, and daughter of Mr. William and Mrs. Lucy 
Packard, who died Nov. 11, 1845,"^t. 25 years. 

1798. In memory of Mrs. Deborah Bent, wife of Mr. Eben 
Bent, who died August 17th, 1798, aged 85 years. 



In memory of 

Mrs. Nelly, 

Wife of Mr. 

Jabeze Wilson. 

Died Oct. 11th, 

1804, 
Aged 28 years. 



Also, 

Their 

Daughter 

Isabella. 

Died Oct. 5th, 

1804. 
Ased 6 months 



Also, 

Their 

Daughter 

Thirsey. 

Died Oct. 6tli, 

1804, 
Aged 2 years. 



Here lies a Mother and two Babes, 
Who God has Shortly Called to their graves, 
In Heaven we hoiie they are blest, 
There-to remain in eternal rest. 

1808. In memory of Susanna Curtis, daughter of Mr. Noah 
and Mrs. Abigail Curtis, who died July 4th, 1803, aged 1 year, 
G months. 

1803. In memory of Benjamin Curtis, son of Mr. Noah and 
Mrs. Abigail Curtis, who died July 17th, 1803, aged 4 years. 

1804. In memory of Mrs. Abigail Curtis, wife of Mr. Noah 
Curtis, who died Feb. 7th, 1804, aged 29 years. 

1808. Benjamin Curtis, son of Mr. Noah and Mrs. Cur- 
tis, who died Sept. 27th, 1808, aged 14 months. 

1 . This numerous family of Marsh are the immediate- descendants of Mr. 
Alexander Marsh, who died in 1698.— [Author. 



CEMETERIES. 137 

1809. In memory of Mr. Adam Curtis, who died Feb. 25, 
1S09, aged 80 years. 

1811. In memory of Mr. vSamucl Curtis, who died Jan. 28th, 
1811, aged 83 years. 

1814. In memory of Ann Curtis, daughter of Mr, Noah and 
Mrs. Ann Curtis, who died Sejitember 20th, 1814, aged montlis. 

1825. Sacred to the memory of IMrs. Elizabeth Curtis, wife of 
Mr, Samuel Curtis, who died April 6th, 1825, aged 90 years. 

1807, Sacred to the memory of Master Ichabod Johnson, 

celebrated teacher of musick, Avho died Aug. 5th, 1807, aged 42 

years. 

And let this feeble body fail, 
Aud let it faint and die, 
My soul shall (juit this mournful valo, 
And soar to worlds on high. 
Shall join the disembodied saints. 
And find its long-sought rest, 
That only bliss for which it pants. 
In the Redeemer's breast. 



1826. [On the east end of the first Congregational Church, 
at the right of the pulpit, a mural monument is erected, sur- 
mounted by a bust of John Adams from the chisel of Greenough. 
On the tablets beneath the bust are the following inscriptions :] 

Libertatem^ Amicitiam, Ibidem, Retinehis. 

D. O. M, 

Beneath these walls 

Arc deposited the mortal remains of 

JOHN ADAMS, 

Son of John and Susanna [Boylston] Adams, 

Second President of the United States ; 

Born 19-30 October, 1735. 

On the Fourth of July, 1776, 

He pledged his Life, Fortune, and Sacred Honour 

To the IXDEPENDEXCE OF IIIS CoUNTRY. 

On the third of September, 1783, 

lie affixed his seal to the definitive Treaty with Great Britain, 

Which acknowledged that Independence, 

And consummated the redemption of his pledg-e. 

19 



138 CEMETEKIKS. 

On the Fouith of July, 1826, 

He was summoned 

To the Independence of Immortality, 

And TO THE Judgment of ins God. 

This House will bear witness to his Piety ; 

This Town, his birth-place, to his munificence ; 

History to his Patriotism ; 
Posterity to the depth and compass of his mind. 

At his side 

Sleeps, till the Trump shall sound, 

ABIGAIL, 

His beloved and only wife, 

Daughter of William and Elizabeth [Quincy] Smith. 

In every relation of life a pattern. 

Of Filial, Conjugal, Maternal and Social Virtue. 

Born Nov. 11-22, 1744, 

Deceased 28 October, 1818, 

Aged 74. 



Married 25 October, 1764. 

During an union of more than half a century 

They survived, in harmony of sentiment, princi])le, and affection, 

The tempest of civil commotion. 

Meeting undaunted and surmounting 

The terrors and trials of that Revolution, 

Which secured the Freedom of their Country ; 

Imi)roved the Condition of their times ; 

And brightened the prosiiects of Futurity 

To the race of man u})on Eartli. 

PILGRIM. 

From lives thus speut, thy earthly duties learn ; 
From Fancy's dreauis to active virtues turn; 
Lot Freodoni, Friendship, Faith, thy soul engage, 
And serve like them thy country and thy age. 

1848. [A mural monument has been placed in the First 
Congregational Church in this town, to the memory of John 



CEMETERIES. 139 

Quincy Adams, by his son, Hon. Chas. F. Adams. It is erected 
on the east end of the chnrch, on tlic opposite side of tlic pulpit 
from liis father's, sunnounted by a bust of John Quincy Adams, 
from the chisel of Powers, lender the bust is the follow- 
ing sentence, sejjarated by an oak l)ranch with two leaves and 
an acorn : — '•'■ Alteri Sectdo;" then follow the inscriptions:] 

A. O. 

Near this place 
Reposes all that could die of 

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, 

Son of John and Abigail [Smith] Adams. . 
Sixth President of the United States. 
Born 11 of July, 1767. 

Amidst the storms of Civil Commotion 

lie nursed the vigor 

Which nerves a Statesman and a Patriot, 

And the Faith 

Which inspires a Christian. 

For more than half a century, 

Whenever his Country called for his labors. 

In either Hemisphere or in any Capacity, 

He never spared them in her cause. 

On the twenty-fourth of December, 1814, 

He signed the Second Treaty with Great Britain, 

Which restored Peace within her Borders. 

On the twenty-third of February, 1848, 

He closed Sixteen Years of Eloquent Defence 

Of the Lessons of his Youth, 

By Dying at his Post 

In her great National Council. 

A Son, worthy of his Father ; 

A Citizen, shedding Glory on his Country •, 

A Scholar, Ambitious to advance Mankind ; 

• This Christian sought to walk humbly 

In the sight of his God. 



140 CEMETERIES. 

Beside him lies 
His Partner for Fifty Years, 

LOUISA CATHERINE, 

Daughter of Joshua and Catherine [Nuth] Johnson. 

Born 12 February, 1775 ; 

Married26 July, 1797; 

Deceased 15 May, 1852, 

Aged 77. 

Living through many Vicissitudes, and 

Under high Responsibilities, 

As a Daughter, Wife and Mother 

She proved Equal to all. 

• Dying, She left to her Family and her Sex 

The blessed Remembrance 

Of a " Woman that feareth the Lord." 

" Herein is that saying true, one soweth and another reapeth. 
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor. Other 
men labored, and ye are entered into their labors." 

1858. [On the opposite or west end of the First Church, 
in the year 1858, tablets were erected to Rev. Peter Whitney 
and Rev. Wm. P. Lunt. That to Rev. Mr. Lunt was erected 
through the efforts of the ladies of the Parish, while the de- 
scendants of Rev. Mr. Whitney erected the one to his memory.] 

In memory of 

REV. PETER WHITNEY, 

Born in Northborough, Jan XIX., MDCCLXX. 

Of Clerical Descent and Dispositions, 

Pie became the Minister of this Toavu 

At the Commencement of the passing Century ; 

Serving in his Office till Old Age, 

Steadily, Gravely, Kindly. 

During his Ministry 

These Walls were built, 

And within them he continued to ajjpear, 

Till, by a Sudden Malady, 

And in an Instant of Time, 



CEMETERIES. 141 

He ceased to be Mortal, 
March III., MDCCCXLIII. 

" llie reapers are the angels." 



In memory of 
WILLIAM PARSONS LUNT, D. D., 

Pastor of this Church. 

Prized, Honored, Lamented, 

Theologian, Poet & Scholar. 

He devoted his Life 

To Intellectual Pursuits and Sacred Exercises. 

Weighty & Accomplished as a Writer, 

Eloquent as a Preacher, 

Conservative in a Liberal Doctrine ; 

Of a Grave & Earnest Spirit, 
He loved the Highest Meditations, 
And meditated the Truest Services. 
Born in Newburyport, April XXL, MDCCCV. ; 

Installed here June III., MDCCCXXXV. 
He died at Ezion-Geber, on his Way to Jerusalem, 
March XXL, MDCCCLVII. 

" Even so says the Spirit, for they rest." 



EPISCOPAL CEMETERY. 



" So fihall we fade and fall at length; 

Yiiuth's blooming cheek,— the silvery hair 
Of reverend age,— and manhood's strength, 
Shall here repose ; then hear our prayer I 

" thou, who by thy Son hast said, — 
From fear of death to set us free, — 
' God is the God, not of the dead; ' 
That we, for aye, may live in thee!" 

The Church-yar<1 on School street, corner of Phipps, was given 
to the Episcopal Church of this town on August 1st, 1725, by 



142 CEMETERIES. 

William and Benjamin Veazie. In this ground the first Church 
of England was built, and in accordance with the customs and 
usages of the English Church it was also \!sed as a depository 
for the dead. Since the removal of the church this ground has 
continued to be used as the Church-yard. Here rest the remains 
of a number of the old jirominent families of the town, viz : 
The Millers, Vassels, Clarks, Dr. Turner, Veazies, Cleverlys, 
and some of Governor Shirley's family. 

INSCRIPTIONS IN THE EnSCOPAL CEMETERY. 

jSub hoc Cespici Tumulatxvr 

Hachilphus, • 

Wilhelmi Shirley^ 

Unpcr do Wivelsjield, in Agro Sussexiensi, cqiud Anglos^ 

Nunc de Hostonio, Novanglor^tm, 

Armiger. 

Ex Francisca, 

{Nuper Barker de Civitate Londinensi^) 

Uxore JEjiis, 

Films Nattc Nieyximus. 

Natus JSostonie, 20 Janudrii, A. 6\ 1734. 

Donatus in hoc Villa^ 13 Sextilis^ A. S. 1737. 

" Uti Flos Succisus AratroP — Virg. 

TRANSLATION. 

Beneatli this Sod is Buried 

Ralph, 

The Youngest Son of 

William Shirley, 

Formerly of Wivelsfield, in the County of Sussex, England, 

Now of Boston, in New England, 

Esquire. 

By Frances, 

(Formerly Barker, in the city of Loudon,) 

His Wife. 

Born at Boston, 20 January, A. S. 1734. 

Deceased in this town, 13 August, A. S. 1737. 

"Like a Flower cut down by the Husbandman." — Virg. 



CKMETEEIE8. 143 

[On tlie reverse side of the tomb-stone will be found the fol- 
lowing inscription :] 

Ralph Shirley, 

Born 20th January, A. D. 1734, 
Dyed 13th August, A. D. 1737. 

" lie cometli forth like a Flower, and is cut down."— Job 14:2. 

This son was omitted in Drake's pedigree of Governor Shir- 
ley's family. He further omits to state what part of England 
the Governor came from, which by this epitaph appears to have 
been Wivelsfield, Sussex.^ 

1740. Here lyes buried the body of Mrs. Dorothy Vassel, 
wife of Mr. Lewis Vassel, aged 28 years and 9 months, who 
departed this life August y« 10, 1740. 

1743. Here lyes the body of Mr. Lewis Vassel, aged 34 years 
and 1 month, who departed this life September the 15th, 1743. 

1 . William Shirley was born in England, and came from Wivelsfield, Sus- 
sex County, to Boston, about the year 1733. In 1741 he was appointed Provin- 
cial Governor of Massachusetts, which position he held eight years, or until 
September, 1749, and was re-appointed in 1753. This administration lasted three 
years, when, in September, 175G, Spencer Phips was selected for the position. 
During his term of office Louisburg was taken. Governor Shirley was some- 
what of a politician, and while the French and Indian Wars (so-called) were 
going on, whenever he desired an appropriation for the expenses of them, if 
successful he would say, I desire so-and-so for my expedition; if unsuccessful, 
I wish for such au amount for your expedition. He rendered his administration 
of 1754 quite popular by refusing to sign the Excise Bill. In 1755 he was 
appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in North America, but 
was soon succeeded by Abercrombie. After being re-called from Massachusetts 
to England, he was selected as Governor of the Baliama Islands. 

In 1770 he returned to Massachusetts, and resided at Roxbury, now a part of 
Boston, until 1771, when he died, and was buried under King's Chapel in Bos- 
ton. He was the author of "Electra," a tragedy, and " Birth of Hercules," a 
" Marsq." 

In 1753, a company of merchants of Boston, bought I'ulliiig Point. Their 
object and intention was to have established here a fishing station. After all 
preparatory matters had been arranged, and the place prepared for business, the 
company invited Governor Shirley to go down with them and partake of a social 
repast. He accepted the cordial invitation. A fine time, and a sumptuous din- 
ner concluded the festivities of the occasion; at this time, by permission of his 
Excellency, "Pulling Point" received the name of Point Shirley. From that 
period Point Shirley has been noted for its good cheer, and the most fastidious 
epicurean can be served with un unsurpassed variety of choice game, and be 
provided with the most rare and delicious of the finny tribe. 



144 CEMETERIES. 

1754. Here lyes the body of Mrs. Margretta Etter, the wife 
of Mr. Peter Etter, who departed this Hfe May the 1st, 1754, 
aged 30 years and 6 months.^ 

1761, In memory of Sarah Marquand, ye wife of Peter Mar- 
quand. She died May ye 31, 1761, aged 81 years. 

1772. In memory of Mr. Peter Marquand, who died May 27, 
1772, aged 86 years. One of the Pillars of this Church. 

1782. In memory of Sarah Cleverly, wife of Mr. Benjamin 
Cleverly, who died July 26, 1782, aged 70 years. 

1789. In memory of Mr. Benjamin Cleverly, who died July 
3d, 1789, in ye 78 year of his age. 

1793. John Cleverly, who died May 12, 1793, aged 42 years. 

1794. In memory of Joseph Cleverly, 2d, who died October 
27, 1794, in the 55 year of his age. 

1798. Mrs. Molly Cleverly, widow of Mr. Joseph Cleverly, 
2d, who died November 8, 1798, aged 57 years. 

1773. Erected in memory of Dr. Henry Turner, who died 
Jan. 21, 1773. 

1808.- In memory of Mr. Zachariah Marquand Thayer, who 
departed this life May 24, 1808, aged 56. 

Lament me not as you pass by, 

As you are now so once was I, 
As I am now so you must be, 

All flesh is mortal you may see. 

1809. In memory of Arthur Pickering, Esq., of the Island 
of St. Croix, who departed this life April 17, 1809, aged 28. 

1815. In memoriam Eeverendi Gulielmus Clark, cujus cineres sub 
hoc capide sunt depositi, olim quibusdam M-inis apud Dedham. Min- 
ister Episcopalis at pro annis plurihus ab officio sacerdoti, per cor- 
poris infirndtatis exclusus molestias varias et dolores, per vitam 
sustinuit proveindentiae diviae submissus, et in spe ad vitayn eternam 
resurrecti07ies beatae. Obit. Ifov. die IV., A. D. MDCCCXV., ^t. 
LXXV. 

1. Mrs. Etter was the wife of Mr. Peter Etter, who was one of the Glass 
Company that settled at Germantown, and was a stocking-weaver hy trade. 
Mr. Etter was engaged by the Provincial Government at the time of the arrival 
of the German Protestant emigrants as an interpreter. He also took quite an 
active part in the town affairs of old Braintree during the Revolutionary period, 
and was quite severely censured for his royalistic sympathies. Mr. Etter sur- 
vived his wife some years. 



CKMETKKIES. 145 

1772. Here lies buried tlic body of Mrs. Elcnnor Clark, 
daughter of Mr. Ricluird and Mrs. Mary C'lnrk of IMilton, wlio 
died May yi^ 27, 1772, aged 27 years. 

Here mingles with its Kindred Eartli, 

The Body of Manlius, Son of 
Lucius Manlius and Mary Sargent. 

Born January 27th, A. D. 1824. 
Died July 8d, A. D. 1825. 

" Suffer little ehildren and forbid them not to come unto me, 
for of sucli is the Kingdom of Heaven." — Matt, xix., 1-1. 

" To God who gave, thy spirit I resign ; 
Of all I loved, thy dust alone is mine. 
Go, little child, Iinniamiers promise share, 
A sainted mother waits her offspring there; 
A Saviour calls, then go my darling boy, 
Unsullied yet, and free from life's alloy." 

The old Miller tomb is still kept in good condition by the 
family. In this receptacle of the dead, Dr. Miller, the first 
Rector of the Church, was entombed, as also have been many of 
his descendants. The old Boise and a number of other tombs 
are to be found in this venerated churchyai-d, but the ravages of 
time have so erased the inscriptions upon them that they are 
now illegible. We venture a hope that these inscriptions on the 
old tombs may be renewed. 



1873. [Within the Episcopal Church, at the right of the 
altar, a tablet has been erected to the memory of Rev, Dr. 
Miller, bearing the following inscrij)tions :] 

"Thky Rest from thkik Laboks, and tiikir Works no 

Follow them." 

In memory of 

REV. EBENEZER MILLER, S. T. D., 

First Rector of the Church, 

Son of Samuel and Rebecca [Belclier] Miller ; 

Born at Milton, June 20, 1703. 

Received into Holy Orders as Deacon, at London, June 20, 172G; 

Ordained as Priest by the Bishop of London, July i), 1727 ; 

20 



1.46 cemeteKieS. 

Appointed Missionary for Braintree, New England, by the 

Society for i)ropagating the gospel in foreign parts, 

August 26, 1727. 

Entered upon his ministry over this church, Dec. 25, 1727 ; 

And died Feb. 11, 1763, after faithful service as a pastor of 

More than thirty-live years. 

Also of MARTHA, his wife. 

Daughter of Thomas Mottram, of Addlethorp, in the 

County of Lincoln, England. 

Married at the church of St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, 

November 16, 1726, 

And died at Braintree, [Quincy,] October 28, 1755, 

In the fifty-second year of her age. 

This tablet is erected by their great-grandson, Charles 
Edward Miller, August, A. D. 1873. 

Semper Paratus. 



HALL CEMETERY 



" Then gentle hands their ' dust to dust ' consign ; 
With quiet tears their simple rites are said; 
And here they sleep, till, at the trump divine, 
The earth and ocean render up their dead." 

In June, 1841, the following persons, viz : Justin Spear, 
Joseph French, Samuel Ela, Solomon Willard, William D. Gray, 
Asa S. Johnson, Frederick A. Trask, George H. Locke, John 
Long, Matthew Carroll, and Michael McKendrick, desiring to be 
organized as a corporate body for the purpose of procuring suit- 
able ground to establish a rural cemetery in West Quincy, peti- 
tioned John M. Gourgas, Esq., to issue a warrant to legally 
organize the association. The meeting was held at the time 
specified, and proper rules and by-laws adopted, and the ofticers 
chosen. 

This burial ground is located on Cemetery street. The land 
was given by the late James Hall, (a wealthy, generous bachelor 



CEMETERIES, 147 

who resided on Adams street,) and was a|)i)ropriately laid out 
and adonu'fl by Mr. Willard, and was consecrated in tlie fall of 
the same year. This cemetery is })leasantly situated in the 
neighborliood of the quarries. 

Mr. Hall liad unbounded confidence in Mr. Willard, and, after 
the cemetery Avas laid out, the latter suggested to him that an 
iron fence for the front was needed. He inquired what it woidd 
cost. Mr. Willard replied, " About a thousand dollars." Mr. 
Hall, jocosely remarking, "You got the land, and now you want 
the money," gave him the desired amount. 

In this rural depository of the dead, some few years after it 
had been laid out, Mr. Willard raised the " Rejected Column," 
intended for the New York Exchange, weighing over thirty 
tons. It was removed by himself and four men, Avith the aid of 
his machinery, a distance of more than forty rods, and erected 
in the centre of the cemetery as a monument, and it forms a 
most cons}»icuous and impressive object in the ground. This 
remarkable shaft was erected as left by the workmen. Mr. Wil- 
lard deposited in its top a com])lete set of stone-cutter's tools. 

This beautiful garden cemetery makes a fit resting-jilace 
for the hewers of stone and artistic workers of monumental 
granite, Avhose sculptured monuments adorn and perpetuate the 
last resting-place of man. 



CATHOLIC CEMETEIIY. 



" Earth's tombs aro doors to heaven ; its graves 
Typos of tliosc fluctuant waves 
That bear you on to fulness and to bliss." 

Before the Catholics of Quincy had purchased a burial-ground 
for the interment of their dead, they were accustomed to de- 
])0sit the remains of their departed frieiuls in the Bunker Hill 
Catholic Cemetery, at Charlestown. This long distance beiu"- 
very inconvenient, they concluded, in 1841, to i)urchase a tract 
of land for a Parish Church and Churchyard. After examining 



148 CEMETERIES. 

several pieces of ground, they decided to secure a lot of Mr. 
James Hall, in West Q.uincy, on what is now Cemetery street, 
(at that time Cemetery street was not constructed.) They 
immediately prepared the ground for burial purposes. In Sep- 
tember, 1842, the cemetery was consecrated with due solemnity 
by Bishop Fenwick, who began the services with the blessing of 
the water with which the ground was to be asperged. 

In closing the recitation of his earnest and appropriate prayer, 
he urged the Children of the Church to resolve to be good and 
virtuous, and with God's heli^ to act ujjon that resolve, so that 
when their bodies were brought to this holy consecrated ground, 
their souls Avould be in peace ; and when the living came there 
they should never forget to offer up a prayer for the souls of the 
departed. 

The Churchyard, becoming too small to accommodate the in- 
creasing number of burials, required an increase of land, which 
was i)urchased of Mr. Joseph W. Robertson in 1853 ; and some 
few years ago another addition was made, by purchasing the 
estate of the late Garret Barry, adjoining the church. This 
pleasant cemetery now contains about eight or nine acres. 



MOUNT WOLL ASTON CEMETERY. 



" I now shall be peopled from life's busy sphere; 
Ye may roam, but the end of your journey is here. 
I shall call! I shall call! and the many will come 
From the heart of your crowds to so peaceful a home ; 
The great and the good, and the young and the old. 
In death's dreamless slumbers my mansions will hold. 

" And sweetly secure from all pain they shall lie, 
Where the dews gently fall, and still waters are nijih; 
While the birds sing their hynms, amid air-harps that sound 
Through the boughs of the forest-trees whispering around, 
And flowers, bright as Eden's, at morning shall spread. 
And at eve drop their leaves o'er the slumbcrer's bed ! " 

For several years it had been found that the old cemetery on 
Hancock street had become too small and crowded, and that it 



CEMETKRIES. 149 

WHS a public necessity tliat some otlier ])lace should be ])rovi(led 
by the town for a burial-ground. 

At the annual town meeting, held in March, 1854, the follow- 
ing committee was chosen to select a proper site for a cemetery, 
and report to the town at the adjourned meeting, viz: — William 
S. Pattee, Israel W. Munroe, Washington ]M. French, George 
White, and Wyraan Abercrombie. This committee, after due 
consideration, came to the conclusion to take a now departure 
in selecting a site for a <lepository of tlie dead. Instead of pro- 
curing some narrow, contracted barren waste, where neither 
tree, shrub, nor flower would grow, they desired to obtain a tract 
which would comV)ine all the essentials; cajtaciousncss, natural 
beauty, and other requisites for a rural or garden cemetery; 
which would be more congenial, and in harmony with the natu- 
ral affections for their kindred and friends. The committee 
after having visited several tracts of land within the limits of 
the town, to select a site possessing all the desirable requisitions 
for a cemetery of the character proposed, finally decided that a 
portion of the town's farm lying on Sea street, given to the 
town by the generous and beneficent William Coddington, pos- 
ses8e<l more of the natural advantages for this purj)ose than any 
other that had come to their view. 

At the adjourned April meeting, the committee rcjjorted that 
they had selected as a site for a cemetery, that portion of the 
town's farm lying on the westerly side of Sea street, containing 
25 acres, 1 quarter, 15 rods. This report was accepted and 
adopted. An appropriation was made which enabled the new 
committee, chosen at this meeting, to prepare about one-half of 
the land accepted, for immediate interments. 

Mr. Brims, Superintendent of Forest Hill Cemetery, kindly 
volunteered his services to lay out the princijtnl avenues. No 
man possessed to a greater degree the j)ractical good taste for 
laying out and embellishing rural grounds than he. 

The committee visited Mount Auburn, Forest Hill and other 
modern cemeteries, and concluded to lay this out on the same 
principle and plan, by subdividing the land into avenues, paths 
and lots. Mr. Luther Briggs of Dorchester was engaged to sur- 
vey and stake out the lots and paths. The lots were to contain 



150 CEMETERIES. 

300 sui^erficial square feet, (the s;iine as in jNIouiit Aiiburq); 
avenues foi" carriages, 16 feet; paths, 5 feet, and a Ijorder of five 
feet on all the paths, avenues and between the lots. This gave 
a proper and convenient space to adorn and suitably embellish 
the paths and lots. 

The committee after inclosing tlie ground, laying out the lots, 
and constructing the rmiin avenues and paths, found that their 
appropriation was inadequate to purcliase trees, shrubs and flow- 
ers to adorn the cemetery, concluded rather than exceed the 
appropriation, to let it i^Jiss over for another year. 

The granite g iteway was designed by Mr. Briggs, subject to 
the approval of the committee, who selected the Gothic in pref- 
erence to the Egyptian, considering it more appi-oi)riate, as it 
presented a more cheerful and brighter aspect than the Egyptian, 
with its dai'k, sombre and uncheerful look.-^ 

The gate was constructed by Cliarles R. Mitchell, at a cost of 
11,867.00. The wall, by Luke Rideout, for $1,109.66. The 

1. " It is very doubtful whether the Egyptian style is most appropriate to a 
Cliristian burial-pla(3e. It certainly has no connection with onr relii;iou. In 
its characteristics it is anterior to civilization, and tlierefore is not beautiful 
in itself. 

" No one will deny the superiority of the Grecian in mere point of beauty. 
But more than this, Egyptian architecture reminds us of the religion which 
called it into being, — the most degraded and revolting paganism which ever 
existed. It is the architecture of embalmed cats and deified crocodiles ; solid, 
stupendous, and time-defying, we allow ; but associated in our minds with all 
that is disgusting and absurd in superstition. 

" Now there is certainly no place, not even the church itself, where it is more 
desirable that our religion should be present to the mind, than the cemetery, 
which must be regarded either as the end of all things, — -the last, melancholy, 
hopeless resort of perishing humanity, — the sad and fearful portion of man, 
which is to involve body and soul alike in endless night; or, on the other hand, 
as a gateway to a glorious immortality, — the passage to a brighter world, whose 
splendors beam even upon the dark chambers of the tomb. It is from the very 
brink of the grave where rest in eternal sleep the mortal remains of those 
whom we have best loved, that Christianity speaks to us, in its most trium- 
phant, soul-exalting words, of victory over death, and a life to come. Surely, 
then, all that man places over the tomb should, in a measure, speak the same 
language. 

"The monuments of the burial-ground should remind us that this is not our 
final abode; they should, as far as possible, recall to us the consolations and 
promises of our religion." — North American Review. 



CE^rKTEUIKS. 151 

fence, ft5'2S.40. The total cost of the cemetery, at its final com- 
pletion in 1866, w:is #4,200.74. The ground was divided into 
577 lots. The price of lots to the residents of the town was to 
be five dollars. 

The preparation of the Lrround had become so far advanced in 
the fall of 1855, that the committee deemed it ready for the 
sacred ceremony of consecration, which it was decided should 
be on the first day of November, 1855, but not without consid- 
erable opposition.^ The place selected for the exercises^ was 

1. The advent of the Know Nothiim Party, (so-called,) in 18.")5, a secret polit- 
ical organization, whose avowed prin<-ii>les were stroii^ly anti-Catholic, and who 
swept the State and town like a whirlwind for two or three years, electing their 
ofticers with larue majorities, revived in a most bitter and liostile manner a 
strong' opposition to the Catholics. So powerful was this antagonistic sentiment 
at this time, that a large majority of the Conimittee on the Mount Wollaston 
Cemetery, were opposed to its consecration, as it was a Popish custom and ought 
not to be tolerated. Notwithstanding this opposition, the minority of the com- 
mittee concluded to have the ground consecrated and abide the consequences. 
Many were so prejudiced in their views that they openly declared that the 
granite gateway ought to be demolished because it had a cross carved upon it, 
and one of the leaders of this faction was a member of the Board of Selectmen. 

-■ ORDER OF EXEKCISE.S AT THK CONSECUATION OK 

MOUNT WOLLASTON CEMETERY, NOVEMBER 1st, 1855. 



I. INVOCATION,— By Rkv. D. L. (Jear. 

ir. HYMN. 

"To thee, O God, in huml)le trust, 
Our hearts their cheerful incense burn, 

For this thy M'ord, 'Thou art of dust. 
And unto dust shalt thou return. 

" And what were life, life's work all done, 
The hopes, joys, loves, tliat cling to clay ; 

All, all departed, one by one. 
And yet life's load borne on for aye! 

"Decay! decay! 'tis stamped on all, 
All bloom in flower and tlesh .shall fade; 

Ye whispering trees when ye .shall fall, 
Be our long .sleep beneath your shade. 



152 



CEMETERIES. 



under the old buttouwood tree, near Maple Avenue. The day 
was a beautiful one, and nature had attired herself in the fulness 
of her crimson autumnal beauty; the gentle southerly wind 
made the ou!t-door exercises agreeable and pleasant. 

The first lots were sold at auction, for the right of choice. May 
5th, 1856.1 

It was found in 1870, that the lots in the new cemetery had 
nearly all been taken up, and that an addition to it was required 
to meet the incieased demands for interments. This led the 
citizens to call a town meeting September 20th, 1870, to consider 

" Here to thy bosom, mother earth, 
Take back in peace what thou hast given, 
' And all that is of heavenly birth, 

O God, in peace, recall to heaven." — Pikrpont. 

in. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS,— By William S. Pattee. 

IV. PRAYER,— By Rev. W. W. Dean. 

V. ADDRESS,— By Rev. Nelson Clark. 



VI. HYMN. 



' Home of the coming dead ! 
The spot whereon we tread 

Is hallowed ground: 
Here earth, in sacred trust. 
Shall hold their sleeping dust. 
Until her bonds they burst, 
And rise unbound. 

Here shall the weary rest. 
And souls, with woes oppress' d. 

No more shall weep; 
And youth and age shall come, 
And beauty in her bloom, 
And manhood, to the tomb; 

Sweet be their sleep! 



' Around their lowly bed 
Shall flowers their fragrance shed. 

And birds shall sing; 
On every verdant mound 
Love's offering shall be found, 
And sighing trees around 

Their shadows fling. 

And there's a holier light! 
Hope, with her taper bright. 

On every tomb. 
Points upward to the sky. 
There every tear is dry, 
There is no mourner's sigh. 

Nor death, nor gloom.' ' 



VII. BENEDICTION. 

1. May 5, 185(). Numbers ;>70 and 546 were the first disposed of, and the 
Hon. Charles F. Adams was the purcha.^er, at five dollars each. Mr. Holt, No. 
322, at six dollars; Mr. Hall, No. KJ, at six dollars; Mr. Dow, No. 240, at five 
dollars and fifty cents; Mr. Whiting, No. 15, at six dollars; Mr. Cudworth, No. 
270, at five dollars and fifty cents; Mr. Flint, No. 271, at five dollars and fifty 
cents; Mrs. Boltenhouse, No. WJ, at seven dollars. These were all the lots 
sold at this time. 



CKMETEUIES. 153 

the question of enlargimj; the ground. It w:is found at tliis 
meeting, after a candid consideration, that an extension was 
immediately demanded. In accordance witli this fact the town 
voted unanimously to make the addition, and a committee was 
chosen to directly surroun<l it with a proper enclosure, and pre- 
]iare the ground for burials. This was accomplished in about 
one year, increasing the number of lots from 577 to 1,007. 

It appears by the action of the town that in five years tunc 
from the last extension the ground had become too limited for 
burial purposes, as a committee was chosen to consider the ex- 
])ediency of annexing the almshouse land, on the opposite side 
of the street, to the cemetery ; also to report whether the pro- 
visions in this gift of land to the town by Mr, Coddington had 
been complied with, AVe have been unable to find that the 
committee has ever reported on the question. When the rational 
system of cremation supersedes the present custom of burials, 
large tracts of land will not be required for cemeteries. 

The question of premature burials ^ seems not to have been 
agitated in this country to any extent; certainly it has not 
been investigated with that care and attention that it has re- 

1. " The precautions u.sed in Frankfort cemetery against unhappy accidoTits 
of this kind are simple, and in the event of reanimation would, I imagine, be 
found effectual. The body is first conveyed to the Chapel, where the funeral 
service is read by a clergyman of the religion of the individual accounted as 
dead; it is then removed to a sepulchral chamber, where a lamp is kept always 
burning. The lid of the coffin is taken off, and upon the top of each of the 
tin;;ors and thumbs of the shrouded figure are placed small bells, or rather, 
indeed, thimbles, to which are attaclied wires communicating with a bell, which 
sounds upon tlie slightest movement of either of the hands. In the adjoining 
room, attendants who relieve each other at regulated hours during the day and 
night, watch for the sound of this bell. An apjiaratus is in the attendants' 
chamber, wliich is contrived to show wliether in the night-time any of them 
may have slumbered even for a moment! 

" I do not know whether I rightly understood the explanation given to us of 
this machine; but T believe the attendant was obliged to wind it uji every live 
minutes, and if he failed to do so it would of it.self register his omission on a 
dial to which he had no access. The thimbles, moreover, easily .slipped oiT, .so 
tliat, as it was his duty freiiuently to visit the .sepulchral chamber, ho would at 
once perceive whether any movement of the hand had occurred, which might 
have failed to set the bell in motion. If no sign of returned life has exhibited 
it.self within a certain number of day.s, then the sexton takes charge of the body, 
and deposits it in the grave already prepared for it." 

21 



154 CEMETEEIES. 

ceived in European countries, perhaps for the reason that prema- 
ture interments have not been so fully proved to be a fact as 
they have in and on the Continent of Euro})e. In Germany 
they have become so well convinced that premature burials have 
taken place from deep lethargy or suspended animation, that 
great care has been taken to prevent the occurrence of such 
an unfortunate circumstance. 



BRAINTREE CEMETERY. 



At what time the old cemetery on Elm street, Braintree, was 
established, we have no precise knowledge, but the epitaph 
placed on the old tomb of the first wife of Rev. Samuel Niles, 
would make it appear to have been about 1716, as it is stated in 
this inscription that she was the first person buried in this ground. 
It seems a little singular that a depository for the dead was not 
selected at an earlier period in Braintree, or the South Precinct 
as it was called at that time, for the church was organized there 
in 1707, and this precinct at that time contained seventy families, 
or within two as many families as the North Precinct. The nine 
years, from 1707, the time the church was gathered, to 171G, 
when the first burial was made in this ground, must have been a 
healthy period for this part of old Braintree, or the inhabitants 
of the South Precinct preferred to inter their dead in the old 
Hancock Cemetery in Quincy; and many, no doubt, buried their 
friends on their estates or in private localities. 

INSCRIPTIONS IN THE ELM STltEET CEMETERY. 

1716. Here lies the very pious and excellently well accom- 
plished Mrs. Elizabeth Niles, wife of the Rev. Samuel Niles 
of Braintree, and daughter of the Rev. Mr. Peter Thacher of 
Milton, who died the 10 of February, 1716, and in ye Bod year 
of her age ; and was the first buried in this huryiiKj -place. 

1732. Here lies interred ye remains of Mad. Ann Niles, con- 
sort of Rev. Mr. Samuel Niles, avIio lived an exani])le of virtue 
and prudence, and an ornament to her family. Died, peculiarly 
lamented, Oct. 25, 1732, in the 52 year of her age. 
The Memory of the Just is Precious. 



CEMETERIBS. 155 

Sic Transit Gloria Mu7idi. 

1762. Hero lies intorrod yo remains of ye Rev. Samuel Niles. 
He was born May 1, 1G74; took his first degree at Harvard Col- 
lege, 1699 ; ordained pastor of ye 2d church of Christ in Brain- 
tree, May ye 23, 1711 ; took his second degree, 1759; continued 
his public ministerial labours to ye last Sabbath ho lived, and 
departed this life May 1, 1762, in ye firm belief of those great 
doctrines of grace wliich he had faiUifully preached and publicly 

defended. 

The sweet remembrance of the Just, 
Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust. 

1816. Hex. Ezra Weld. Born in Pomfret, Connecticut, June 

13,1736; graduated at Yale College, 1759; ordained to the 

ministry in Braintree, Nov. 17, 1764; died January 16, 1816, 

aged 80 years.^ 

Erected by his Children. 

1774. July 10, 1774, aged 31, in the full assurance of hope, 
departed this life Mrs. Anna Weld, consort of the Rev. Ezra 
Weld. 

1778. In memory of the pious and exemplary Mrs. Hannah 
Weld, 2d wife to the Rev. Ezra Weld, and 2d daughter to tlio 
late Daniel Faruham, Esq., of Newburyport, who obt. March 31, 
1778, aged 27. 
1 1789. In memory of Deacon James Penniman, who departed 
this life May 22, 1789, aged 80. 

< 1796. In memory of Mrs. Dorcas Penniman, widow of James 
l*enniman, who died Oct. 14, 1796, in the 85 year of her age. 

'Tis enough, the hour is come ; 
Now within this solemn tomb, 
Let this mortal form decay, 
Mingle with its kindred clay. 



1. Rev. Mr. "Weld was (juite unfortunate in his family bereavements. It ap- 
pears by the record that he publicly annoiuiced his intention of marriage i'wo 
times. This was then the custom, and when they were publicly posted in tlio 
meeting-house the young people on the Sabbath would tlock to the bulletin, to 
see who were to be the victims of matrimonial felicity or infelicity. By careful 
investigation of the records, however, it would seem that the contracts were 
only fulfilled by the marriage of four of them. The fifth, (as she was living,) 
must have fallen from grace by breach of contract, or the lady may not have 
desired to enjoy miuistetial honors by becouxiug united to this elderly clergyman. 



156 CEMETERIES. 

\ 1770. Here lies buried tlic body of Kiith Peiiuiin;m, wife of 
Mr, Williaiu IVniiimaii, wliO' departed this life Aug. 17, 177(), in 
the 70 year of lier age. Who was mother of fifteen children, 
ten sons and five daughters. 

177G, 1786. Sacred to tlic memory of Mr. p]dmund Soper, 
and Eunice, his consort". Obt. 27 Sept., 177(5, ^Et. 45 ; obt. 
January 3, 1786, JRt. 51. Obt. of the children of the deceased : 

1774. Miss Eunice Soper, obt. Sept. 24, 1774, aged 13. 

1782. Mrs. Betsey Crosby, obt. July 28, 1782, aged 27. 

1784. Mr. Theopilus Soper, obt. 3 May, 1784, aged 22. 

1789. Miss Martha Soper, ob't. 5 May, 1789, aged 15. 

179U. Mr. Jesse Curtis Soper, obt. 16 August, 1790, 
aged 22. 

1801. Mrs. Fanny Boardman, obt. Dec. 23, ISOI, aged 22. 

1768. Captain Richard Faxon, who died May 5th, 1768, in 
the 82 year of his age. 

1769. In memory of Aim Faxon, wife of Captain IMchard 
Faxon, who died October 16, 1769, in the 82 year of her age. 

1772. In memory of Mr. Richard Faxon, Avho died Aug. 28, 
1772, aged 52 years. 

1774. Here reposes the mortal part of JNIrs. Relief Faxon, 
wife of Mr. James Faxon, wlio left this state of suffering Jan. 
14, 1774, ^Et. 51 years. 

Softly her dying liead she lay 

Ui)oii her uiotlior's breast; 
Her maker calls her soon away, 

And hero's her flesh at rest.* 

1797. Here reposes the mortal part of Mr. James Faxon, 
who left this state of suffering June 21, 1797, Ait. 76 years.^ 

Blest in the promised seed, supremely hlest, 
His ransometl soul entered into rest; 
Now, insolence of pride and priestli/ spite 
Shall strive in vain to rob his ri|;ht. 

1. ISlr. Faxon was exeommnnicated from the church, and his indiijjuition for 
this transaction he appears to have carried to his j;rave, as the above sentiment 
shows. Mr. I'^axon was j^randfather of the late Job Faxon of this town, and 
fjrout-grjvndfather of Mr. Homy H. Faxon. 



CEMKTEKIES. If)? 

« 

1778. Ik-re lies interred C';t])t. Joliii Hayward, wliu (leparled 
lliis life Sept. 14, 177:5. 

Stop liere, my friend, and oa.st an ej'c, 
As you are now .so once \v:is I ; 
As 1 am now so you must be, 
Prepare for death and follow mo. 

1775. Ill meiiu)ry of P^bene/er Ilayward, a<;ed 28 yeans. 

1775. In memory of Miss Elizabeth Ilayward, aged 10 years. 
Both died Feb. 3d, 1775. (These two inscrij)tioiis are on one 
tomb-stone.) 

1813. In memory of Mr. Daniel Parsons Ilayward. Died 
Sept. 27, 1S13, aged 72 years. 

1825. In memory of Mrs. Lois Ilayward, Avifc of Mr. Daniel 
Parsons Ilayward, who died March 2d, 1825, aged 73 years. 

1765, 1770. In memory of Mr. Ebenezer White, and his wife, 
Lydia White. Mrs. Lydia White departed this life June 27, 
1705, in the 08 year of her age. Mr. Ebenezer White <leparted 
this life July 19, 1770, in the 87 year of his age. 

1772. In memory of Mr. William White. He died Mareh 
15, 1772, in the 55 year of his age. 

^ly loving friends, as you i^ass by. 
On ray cold grave pray cast an eye ; 
Tn this dark place you'll quickly bo, 
I'repare for death and follow me. 

1770. In memory of Samuel White, who departed this life 
29 March, 1770, in the 50 year of his age. 

Indulgent world, I bid adieu ; 
Farewell, dear friends, farewell to you; 
No mortal kindred can I show, 
To any creature here below. 

1778. In memory of Caj)t. Thomas White. lie died March 
18, 1778, in the 48 jeai- of his age. 

171>4. In memory of Mrs. Kuth Wild, wife of Cajit. Silas 
Wild, who died Jan. 12, 1704, in the 01 year of her age. 

1807. In memory of C'a}»t. Silas Wild, who died Sept. 30, 
1807, aged 71 years. 

1730. Here lies interred the body of l>cnjaniin Hay<Ii'n, Avho 
died May the 14, 1730, in the 53d year of his age. 



158 



CEMETERIES. 



1751. Here lies the body of Mrs. Sarah Thayer, wife of 
Ephraim Thayer. Deceased Aug. 19, 1751, aged 79 yenrs, 5 
months.^ 



1. Verses on the death of Mrs. Sarah Thayer, written in the j-ear 1751, by 
Edward Chesman, Braintree: — 



Good people all, I pray attend. 

To what 1' ve got to say. 
Concerning one that's dead and gone, 

Death snmnion'd her away. 

An ancient handmaid of the Lord, 
The wife of Ephraim Thayer, 

Who lately from ns has deceased ; 
Her praise I will declare. 

This person, now of whom I write. 
Is worthy of our praise; [died, 

"With God she walked, in Christ she 
She sprung from goodly race. 

Her grandfather, he was a man 

Who did the truth reveal ; 
And to defend Christ's kingdom great, 

He burned with holy zeal. 

Like holy Abraham of old, 

Left land and kindred all, 
And wandering up and down, he went 

Wherever God did call. 

From old England he did come o'er, 
Where heathen did possess, 

For to enjoy religion pure, 
And God this man did bless: — 

And made him once a ruler here, 

Let's not forget liis fame; 
He lived above the age of man, 

John Alden was his name. 

Her other grandfather elder was,* 
In Braintree church of old; 

He lived an holy, honest life, 
To his praise lot it bo told. 

Also her father was a man 

Who lived to good estate; 
Ho lived an honest, holy life, 

And died a hopeful saint. 



She wedded was in youthful days, 

To Mt. Ephraim Thayer; 
He lived a good religious life, — 

This truth I can declare. 

They lovingly together lived, 

And never did provoke — 
But like two lambs they did agree, 

And both pulled in one yoke. 

The time sho lived a married life, 
Was fifty-nine years and more ; 

The whole time of her pilgrimage, 
Lacked some months of fourscore. 

Also she was a fruitful vine. 

The truth I may relate,— 
Fourteen was pf her body born. 

And lived to man's estate. 

From these did spring a numerous race, 

One hundred thirty-two ; 
Sixty and six each sex alike. 

As I declare to you. 

And many of them went to war, 

The enemy to suppress, 
And all returned safe home again; 

The Lord this race did bless. 

And one thing more remarkable, 

Which here I shall record : 
She'd fourteen children with her, 

At the table of her Lord. 

Now the time comes that sho must die, 
God calls his handmaid home; 

She obeys his voice most cheerfully, 
Saying, Blessed Lord, I come. 

Then sending for her children all. 
And counsel'd thom aright, 

For to obey Jehovah's call, 
And serve the Lord of might. 



*Deacon Samuel Bass was indeed a candidate for the office of ruling elder, 
and votes were given for him, for Deacon Brackett, and for Mr. Kinsley, but 
Mr. Hancock, in his centennial sermon, page 23, says, " I suppose Mr. Brackett 
and Mr. Bass refusing, the lot foil upon Mr. Kinsley." 



CEMETERIES. 



159 



1752. Here lies tlic body of Mr. Nathaniel Thayer, 2d. Died 
January the 3d, 175i2, in the 77 year of his age. 

17G8. In memory of Lieut. Nathaniel Thayer, who died Dec. 
28, 1708, aged 59. 

1759. In memory of Caleb Thayer, who died Nov. 29, 1759, 
in the 44 year of his age. 

1782. Sacred to the memory of Lieut. David Ilolbrook, who 
died March 26, 1782, in the 66 year of his age. Also three of 
his sons: 

1793. Caleb, died March, 1793, iEt. 27. 

1795. Moses, died Aug. 27, 1795, ^Et. 34. 

1797. Jonathan, died May 12, 1797, .Et. 46. 

Come listen and attend, the father and his friends 

Lie sleeping in the dust; 
Botli young and old forsake your sins, 

For you must follow us. 

1873. In memory of Richard Salter Storrs, D. D., born at 
Longmeadow, Mass., February 6th, 1787 ; ordained pastor of 
the first church in Braintree July 3d, 1811 ; died at Braintree 
August 11, 1873, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, and the 
sixty-third year of his pastorate. 

" Father, I wall that they also whom thou hast given me, be 



And having ended thus her work, 

Her breath she did resign; 
Into thy hands I do commend. 

This sjiirit, Lord, of mine. 

Her weeping friends stood round her 
Olosed up her eyes of clay; [Ijcd, 

TlicM for her funeral did prepare, 
In dust they did her lay. 

Could you have seen the numerous race 

That did for her lament; 
The number more tlian .Jacob had, 

W'lien down to Egypt went. 

flood people all, both far and near, 

Count it a heavy frown, 
Wlien God sends his messenger, death. 

To cut the righteous down. 



The nineteenth of August she did die, 
Seventeen hundred fifty-one; 

Her body here in dust doth lie, 
Her soul to rest has gone. 

Good people all, attend the call, 

In her decease of late; 
And walk with God as she hath done, 

And he'will bless your state. 

O, strive to live religious lives, 

And not like Balaam vile. 
Desire to die a righteous death. 

And live a life defiled. 

So fare you well her immerous race, 

These few lines I do pen. 
That you may seek Jehovah's face, 

And serve the Lord. Amen. 



These lines are here perpetuated, more on account of the historical facts 
therein contained, than the style in which they are composed. 



160 CEMETERIES. 

witli me where I nn\ ; that they may heliold my glory, which 
thou linst given nie." — Jolm 17 : '24. 

A reverent student of the Scripture, and eloquent jireacher; 
an affectionate i)astor; a devout christian, honored among the 
churches for his wisdom in counsel and his fervent zeal in all 
good works ; tenderly beloved by his peo])le, most of all by his 
own household, the last text on which he })reached the lesson of 
his life, and shows the sure grouiul of his victorious hope in 
death :— 

" Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure 
to give you the kingdom." — Luke 12 : 32. 

1818. In memory of Mrs. Sarah S. Storrs, consort of Rev, R. 
S. Storrs. Born at Huntington, N. Y., March 14, 1783; married 
April 2, 1812 ; died at Braintree, April 0, 1818, aged 25. 

1834. In memory of Mrs. Harriet Storrs, consort of Rev. R. 
S. Storrs. Born at Charlestown, Mass., Dec. 12, 1786 ; married 
Sei)t. IG, 1819; died at Jiraintree, July 10, 1834, aged 47. 

1874. [The tomb-stone to Dr. Storrs' third wife has not as 
yet been erected, but is now in preparation. The following in- 
scri})tion, to be cut upon it, was kindly furnished me by a friend 
of the family :] 

Ann Stebbens Storrs, died August 27, 1874, aged 80 years. 

1833 In memory of the Rev. Charles B. Storrs. Born at 
Longmeadow, Mass., jMay 23, 1794; became first pastor of the 
Presbyterian church, Ravenna, Ohio, 1822; tirst I*rofessor of 
Christian Theology in Western Reserve College, Ohio, 1828; 
first President of the game institution August, 1830; died at 
Braintree, Mass., Sept. 15, 1833, aged 30. 

Rev. Samuel Niles has recorded that in eleven years, or be- 
tween the years 1716 and 1727 inclusive, one hundred persons 
were buried in this ground. 

There arc other ])ublic cemeteries in Braintree. The ])rincipal 
ground for interment at the present time is located on I'ond 
street. The town has also set apart a j^lot of ground for the 
burial of the town's jioor on Plain street. But the interments 
in this depository of the dead have not been devoted exclusively 
to the poor, as many persons in the neighborhood of better cir- 
cumstances have had their friends interred here, and a number 



CBMETEBIES. 



161 



of fine tomb-stones ndorn tliis plebeian cemetery. There are 
several private cemeteries in the town for the convenience of 
local communities. ' 



RANDOLPH CEMETERY. 



The following account of the Randolph Cemetery is from Dr. 
Aklen's communication to the Randolph Transcript., in 1857. 

" The first burying place in Randolph was the northerly part 
of the cemetery in North street. The land Avas presented to the 
inhabitants in the vicinity by James Bagley, who is supposed to 
have been one of the earliest emigrants. This fact is ascertained 
from a memorandum of Rev. Mr. Niles, whose pastorate at that 
time extended over the present towns of Randolph and Brain- 
tree, both being then included within the limits of the South 
Precinct of the ancient township. 

" The precise date of opening this ground is unknown, but 
Avas probably in 1716. The i*ecord of Rev. Mr. Niles informs us 
tliat up to the seventeenth of October of the following year, 
only three persons had been buried there. Their names were 
as follows, viz: — The mother-in-law of Samuel Bagley; Mrs. 
Niles, the second wife of Benjamin Niles, who Avas cousin to the 
minister; and Edmund Littlefield, Junior." Uj) to 17"i7, only 
twenty-three persons had been interred here, which were the 
following, including the three above enumerated : — Mrs. Spear, 
the wife of Ebenezer's son, Oct. 17, 1717 ; a child of John Niles, 
June ; a child buried January 3, 1718 ; a child of Edmund 
Littlefield, April 3, 1718; the wife of Joseph Si)ear, March 24, 
1719; Nathani<.'l Littlefield's child, March 29,17-20; a child of 
Daniel Thayer, July 19,1720; William Lintield's child, March 
21, 1721; a child of Nathaniel S])ear, Oct. 29, 1724; sister of 
Samuel Niles, Se])t. 5, 1724 ; cousin Benjamin Niles, Feb. 27, 
1725; wife of Deering Spear, March i;}, 1725; child of Christo- 
pher Dyer, March 24, 1725 ; wife; of Ebene/er Sj)ear, April 10, 
1725 ; child of Moses Thayer, May 27, 1725; Christopher Dyer's 
child; child of David Eaines, Dec, 1725; wife of Nathaniel 
Littlefield, March 10, 1720; child of Samuel Bagley; Moses 
Thayer, Sept. 4, 1727. 

22 



162 CEMETERIES. 

" The private records of Rev. Mr, Niles relate a case of re- 
markable family bereavement and death, Avhich is probably 
without a i^arallel in the history of the town, or perhaps in the 
State. It is as follows : ' I shall here note something remark- 
able concerning cousin John Niles, commonly called Cooper 
John Niles, of the upper precinct in Braintree ; relating to his 
death and sundry of his near relatives, in the month of May, 
1752. First, he died, the seventh of May, 1752 ; second, his 
wife died. May tenth ; third, his brother Ebenezer died. May 
twelfth ; fourth, his son Peter died, May fourteenth ; fifth, his 
son Nathan died, May fifteenth ; sixth, his sister Clark died, 
May seventeenth. She was the wife of Benjamin Clark.' 

" This statement is corroborated by the town records : — ' So 
that he, his wife, his brother and sister and his two sons, heads 
of families, all died in the compass of ten days, of the mortal 
fever, (so called at that time,) and prevailed in this town and 
others.' They were all buried near together in this Randolph 
Cemetery, and small granite headstones, rudely carved, mark 
the place of their sepulture." 

There are other Protestant cemeteries in Randolph besides 
this, that are in use at the present time ; also a Catholic ceme- 
tery. In Holbrook, which was formerly East Randolph, a pleas- 
ant, commodious and incorporated cemetery is to be found. 



We have endeavored to make a correct transcri})tion of the 
older epitaphs, (not the late ones,) in the Quincy and Braintree 
cemeteries ; still, no doubt, errors will be found, as many of the 
stones are overgrown with moss, and such have been the ravages 
of time that many of the inscriptions are nearly obliterated, and 
very difficult to decipher. In several cases we have referred to 
the town records to verify doubtful points. Even in investiga- 
ting the records we have, in numerous instances, been unable to 
get the desired information, as Ave have found a discrepancy of 
from one to three years between the ei)itaphs on the stones and 
the records, as to age and tlie time of death, and we were not 
able to state which was right. Therefore gravestones cannot 
always be relied upon in collecting geneological knowledge ; 



CEMETERIES. 163 

neither, as singular as it may seem, do they always indicate the 
})lace where the person was buried.^ Especially is this the case 
in the old, crowded cemeteries, as many families desire to have 
their friends interred together, and if they find some extinct 
family or an obscure gravestone comes in their way, would re- 
move thorn to some other place ; and to my knowledge has this 
occurred several limes in the Hancock Cemetery. There api)ears 
to be an error in the inscrijjtion on tlic Adams tomb, as it is 
there made to appear that ]>raintree was incorporated in 1G:59, 
by the following part of the inscription, taken from the tomb- 
stone : " Mr. Adams, one of the original proprietors in the town- 
ship of Braintree, incorporated in the year 1639." The record- 
ed evidence states that Braintree was incorporated May 13th, 
1640. It is quite evident that Mr. John Adams, when he wrote 
this inscription, got the incorporation of the town mixed with 
the organization of the chuj'ch, which Avas in 1630. In this eccle- 
siastical i)eriod of the Colonial History, the organization of the 
church was of as great, if not greater importance than the 
incorporation of the town. 

Inscriptions on tomb-stones, to inform the world of personal 
virtues and heroic deeds, are of ancient origin ; these and hiero- 
glyphics were extensively used by the old Egyptians thousands 
of years before Christ, and have been of great assistance to 
Wilkcnson, Lepsus, Davis aiul other arclueologists, in writing 
the remote history and antiquities of Egypt and old Carthage. 
They also Avere in use by the Greeks until forbidden by Lycur- 
gus, except to his heroes who died in battle. Since the stern ami 
iron age of this old Grecian, wit, humor, sarcastic burlesque, and 
various sentimental sentiments have been exhausted on monu- 
mental marble and stone. " Voltaire wrote epitaphs on birds, 
Byron and Pope on dogs, Avhile Prior demolished the pretensions 
of Westminster Abbey in four lines : " 

" Nobles and heralds, bj' jour leave, 

Here lies what once was Matthew Prior; 
The sou of Adam and of Eve, 
Can Stuart or Nassau claim higher? " 

1. Veneration for these old grave-stones will hardly allow us to suggest that 
they may sometimes point to a falsehood, and that the first line, "Here lies," 
engraved upon many of them, may bo the most truthful part of the inscription. 



PUBLIC HOUSES. 



The first church, and tlie first public house, were established 
the same year. Both in 1639 ; one for the spiritual, and the 
other for the physical comforts of man. June 6th, 1639, Martin 
Sanders, the first landlord in Braintree, was licensed as an 
innholder, and May 18th, 16,10, received a license t'o " draw 
wine." The colonists, in their restrictions for the sale of spirit- 
uous liquors, were not so prohibitory as they were in regard to 
the sale and use of tobacco, which was forbidden under a pen- 
alty of two shillings and six pence.^ Mr, Sanders was a man of 
some note in the town, having been Selectman, and also held 
many other prominent positions relating to the management of 
town affairs. The inventory of his estate gives the penury of 
the public houses of that day.^ 

1. " It is ordered, That uoe p'son that keeps an ordinary shall take ahove 
VId. a meale for a p'son, & not above Id. for an ale quarte of beare, out of 
meale tyme, vnder the penalty of Xs. for eny offence, eith'r of dyet or bearo. 

"Likewise, That victulars, or keeps of an ordinary, shall not suffer any to- 
bacco to be taken in their howses, vnder the penalty of Vs. for eny offence, to 
be payde by the victuler, & Xlld. bx the p't'y that takes it. 

"Further, It is ordered that noe p'son shall take tobacco publiquely, vnder 
the penalty of lis., VId., nor privately, in his owue howse, or in the howse of 
another, before strangers, & that two or more shall not take it together, 
anywhere, vnder the aforesaid penalty for eny offence." 

2. This appraisement of the goods and chattels of the landlord of the first inn 
in Braintree, fully illustrates the poverty of the times in household furniture, 
and the customary utensils for culinary purx^oses. Knives and forks were not 
in use at this time ; a few pewter dishes answered for the modern crockery ware ; 
as little was known of ceramics ; feather beds v.-ere expensive and not in com- 
mon use. The principal beds were what were called flock beds, or beds filled 
with flocks of sheep's wool. Three bedsteads, four chairs, and an ordinary table 

made up the principal furniture of this old inn. 

£ s. D. 

Waring apparel, - - - - - - - 8 00 

Linnings, - - - - - - - - 740 

ffother boulsters, - - - - - - - 2 15 



PUBLIC HOUSES. 165 

After the death of Mr. Sanders, which occurred in 1658, 
Mr. John Mills received authority to establish a house of enter- 
tainment in Braintree. This was the second public liouse in 
the town, and was located on the westerly side of Hancock 
street, about two hundred feet south of the junction of Canal 
street with it. Mr. Mills, who succeeded his father in business, 
petitioned the Governor and Council, in 1710, for a remittance 
of his fine for selling " drink " without a license. In later times 
this house Avas knoAvn as the Ben Faxon House. It was con- 
sumed by fire May 24th, 1843, Avith two other dwelling-houses, 
one stable and two shops. This Avas the greatest conflagration 



ffour quishons, - - - - 

Two fflock beds, one ffether bed, - - - . 

ftive blankets, -...-. 

Two pillows, ...... 

A set of curtains and bedstead, .... 

Three coverlids and two ruggs, .... 

Three old curtains, two bedsteads, with cord, 

Brass, ....... 

A brass kittle, ...... 

Pewter, ....... 

One table, and form, &c., .... 

One still, wool and loom, .... 

Two hogsheads, &c., ..... 

Wooden ware, baskets, two casks, ... 

Two wheels, and measures, and three pailes, 

Three cieves, and cheese press, - . . - 

ffour chairs, and some small wooden vessels, 

TJie dwelling-house, with out housing and land adjacent, 

A dripping pan, & cla\'ers, and some iron tools, 

One parcel of meadow land, .... 

Earthen ware & glass, &c., . - . - 

Bible and two other books, .... 

A musket, iron wedges, &c., .... 

A mare, colt, and old lumber, .... 

Twelve cows, ...... 

A parcel of l;^d at Pumpkin Kill; 10 acres, more or less, 
Two oxen, one calf, and heifer, .... 

Three sheep, one hogg, . . . . - 

Debts due, -..---- 

Total, 

Debts owing, ...... 



£ s. 


D. 


12 





4 G 





2 





8 





2 10 





6 18 





1 12 





4 





2 10 





2 14 





2 10 





2 (! 





5 





1 8 


G 


6 





fi 





17 





(30 





10 





40 





13 





1 





1 10 





17 





51 





40 





15 10 





3 17 





30 





321 17 





15 10 






166 PUBLIC HOUSES. 

which ever occurred in Quincy as regards the number of biiild- 
ings destroyed, but the loss was not near as much in the amount 
of vakie as that by many other fires, especially by the destruc- 
tive fires of 1875, which, for their number and the loss of prop- 
erty, were the greatest the town has ever experience;!. 

Mr, Mills was captain of the military company, and also 
deputy to the General Court, and liis tavern was the noted 
public house of that day. It was in this locality that the three 
public institutions of the town were situated, the churcli, school 
house and tavern, all within a stone's throw of each other. 

Mr. Whitney, in his History of Quincy, relates that the second 
public house was kept on Penn's Hill by a Mr. Penniman. We 
are of an opinion that it may have been the third, although we 
have not found any record that a public inn was kept here ; 
still very probably one might have been located on this side of 
the hill, not far from where the residence of Mr, Henry Hard- 
wick now stands. The relics of an old cellar are still pointed 
out as the location of this jjublic house. The Pennimans resided 
in this neighborhood, as Joseph bought an estate in this vicinity, 
as early as 1675, of Mr, William Penn, after whom the hill was 
named. Mr. Penn ^ was one of the first benefactors to the town, 
having made by his will bequests to the church, schools, the first 
school teacher, and the poor of the town. 

The next house that we have been able to find was established 

1. Mr. William Penn was a resident of Boston at the time he made his will, 
and in this instrument his desire was that his remains sliould be buried in 
Braintree, in the bnrying-place. 

"Item, — I give unto the church of Brantry two pounds, the one half in 
money and the other half in country pay. (This country pay was probably 
in produce, as was the custom of the times.) I give unto the use of the schools 
of the town of Brantry ten pounds, one half in money and the other half in 
country pay. I give to Deacon Tompson, of Brantry, two pounds in silver; and 
to his sou Edward I give two pounds in money. I give to Mr. Benjamin 
Tompson, (who was the first school master,) fourty shillings in money, and to 
every one of his children now living fourty shillings aj)iece J^ silver. I give 
to Stephen Pain of Brantry, whome I made overseer of my revoked will, two 
pounds in silver; and his son Stephen two pounds thereof, half in silver, the 
other half in country pay. I give to the poor people in Brantry three cows. 
And I order that all legacies shall be paid within eighteen months. 

" Sworn, Feb. 14, 1688-S>." 



PUBLIC HOUSES. 167 

by j\[r. Thomas Crosby about 1739. In this house Daniel Al- 
len, the Indian, died.^ Its location seems to have been uncer- 
tain. Mr. John Adams, in his diary, says it was situated 
" exactly ten miles from town," (meaning Boston,) which 
location has for years been designated by a stone post jilaced in 
the wall in front of the late Lemuel Brackett's estate, on 
Hancock street. Mr. Whitney relates, in his History of Quincy, 
that it stood near the house formerly owned by Mr. Peter 
Boylston Adams, on Adams street, now in possession of Mr. 
Rice. We shall, in a note, give tlie bounds of this estate, as it 
was at the time ^\r. Crosby's executors sold the jiroperty to JNIr. 
Samuel Bass, and let the readers locate it for themselves.- AVc 

]. It has been claimed that the Colonial and Provincial Government dis- 
played a spirit of great inhumanity towards the Indians, but in tbis instance 
they seem to have exhibited a very liberal and humane act toward a suffering 
Indian. 

" To his Excellency William Shirleij, Governor and Capt. Gcneral-in-Chie/e in 
and ovei' his Majestie's Province of the Masnachusetts Bay in New Enr/land, 
and to his Majestie's C'ounrill in Councill Assembled: Feb. 8, 1743. 

"William Hunt, John A(hims, and Ebenczer Copelaiul, Selectmen of lirain- 
tree, Humbly Sheweth, — Tb.nt Daniel Allen, an Indian man who hath no set- 
tled inhabitant in any town in this Province, and who had been some consider- 
able time in the government's service in the quality of a soldier at Fort George 
Eastward, under the command of Henjamin Larrabee, was, daring his being in 
said service, rendered so infirm that said Larrabee discharged him his said 
service on Sept. 4, 1741, upon which he, having .some friends at the Cape, 
directed his course that way; but so it happened he had travelled so far and his 
infirmities increased so fast, that he was unable to travell farther, and on De- 
cember 2, 1741, lie then being at the house of Thomas Crosby in liraintree, said 
Cro.>*by, by direction of the Selectmen of said Town, took care of him. and be 
continued there in a very langui.xhing condition for ten weeks, wanting three 
days, and dyed; during which time the necessary expences in waiting and other 
attendance, with his funeral charges, amounted to fom- poumls, eleven shillings, 
and .seven pence half penny. Xow, inasmuch as the charge aforesaid, that has 
ari.sen to the town aforesaid, on account of said Daniel Allen, is a charge that 
properly belongs to the ProviiTce to pay, your petitioners therefore humbly pray 
your Excellency and Honor to give full directions in the i)remises, as to law 
and justice appertaining. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall over 
pray. COL. JOSEPH GOOCil, for petitioners; 

And also deputy for the town." 
Allowed, £1, lbs., 7d.— Mass. Arch. 

'_'. Mary Crosby, widow of Thomas Crosby, ami .lonatlian his son, of Hoston, 
a mariner, executors of the estate of the late Thomas Crosby, bargained and 
Bold to Samuel Bass, Jr., for 78 pounds, several parcels of land. One piece of 



168 PUBLIC HOUSES. 

are very confident that Mr. Whitney's statement is correct, and 
that the Crosby house stood in the neighborhood of the late 
Peter B. Adams'. Mr. Brackett's estate could not at that tfme 
have been in the possession of the Crosbys, as this estate was 
then the southerly boundary of the Hancock lot, and in the 
possession of a Mr. Beals. 

Mr. Crosby seems to have been a timid j)erson, and afraid to 
visit Boston for the purpose of renewing his license, on account 
of the small pox being there ; Avhich neglect put him to consid- 
erable trouble to procure one.^ 

In 1759 Mr. Crosby died, and his wife Mary, and Jonathan his 
son, of Boston, a mariner, were appointed his executors. They 
disposed of the old tavern to Samuel Bass, Jr. Mr. Bass con- 
tinued to carry on this place as a house of entertainment. - 

Previous to Mr. Bass commencing business, Mr. James Brack- 
four acres, bounded as follows, viz: — Southerly on land of Joseph Crosby; east- 
erly on land of Edmund Quincy; westerly on land set off to the widow Crosby; 
northerly on land of grantee. The other pieces of land appear not to have been 
connected with the tavern lot. 

1. " To his Honor Spencer Phips, Lieut. Governor and Commander-in- 
Chief: Dec. 21, 1752. 

"The memorialist, Thomas Crosby of Braintry, in the County of Suffolk, 
humbly sheweth, — 

"That he hath kept a public Tavern in said Brantry, on the Road leading 
from Boston to Plymouth, for many years last past, as he apprehends to the 
General acceptance of Travellers. But it so happened that the Small Pox in 
Boston, in July last past, which was License Court time in said County, and for 
some other reasons, ye memorialist did not Renew his license again ; but so it 
is, may it Please your Honor, that there is no Tavern near, and many of his old 
Customers who Travell said Road complain that they can't be lutertained, and 
have Repeatedly solicited your memorialist again to keep a Tavern in his now 
Dwelling-house in said Brantry. Therefore your memorialist prayes your 
Honor or Honors, That the Justice of the Court of General Sessions of the 
Peace for the County, at their next term may be impowered to grant the memo- 
rialist a License to keep a Tavern in said Brantry, the time by law being 
elapsed Notwithstanding." — Mass. Arch. 

2. "To his Excellency Thomas Powell, Esq., Governor and Commander-in- 
Chief: 

" Your memorialist Humbly Sheweth, — Apr. 11, 1759. 

" That Mr. Thomas Crosby was Licensed by the Court of General Session.s of 
the Peace for the County of Suffolk, to be an Innholder in the town of Brain - 
tree, for about twenty years past, and was so for the current year; but said 
Crosby dying a few months since, your Petitioner has bought the House and 



PUBLIC HOUSES, 1G9 

ctt had constructed a large and commodious house on the corner 
of Ehn and Hancock streets, for a jjublic hotel. In looking over 
the old almanacs, before, during and after the Revolutionary 
War, we find in the tables giving the list of the stage lines " to 
tlie principal Towns on the Continent,^ from Boston, Avith the 
Names of those who keep Houses of Entertainment," that Mr. 
Brackett's hotel is the only house mentioned in Braintrec. From 
tliis we infer that the other taverns were not of much impor- 
tance, and that Mr. Brackett's house was the fashionable resort 
of that day. The first house was taken, down, and in 1794-5 
the present one erected on the site of the noted old Brackett 
tavern. There is no doubt that on this site a hotel was kept 
for a longer time than at any other locality in town, it having 
been occupied as a tavern upAvards of a century. 

This house was discontinued about 1835. The last landlords 
were IMr. Downs and Mr. Leonard, who kept it but a sliort time. 
Mr. Downs attempted to carry it on as a temperance house, but 
it proved a complete failure, notwithstanding his noted sign 
hung out, representing by inverted rum bottles that a little wine 
for the stomach's sake could not be had at his inn. This estate 
was sold to Mr. Francis Williams in 183G, who had the old hotel 
remodeled and extensively rej^aired. The property is now in 
possession of his son, Mr, Joliu S. Williams. 

Mr. John Adams began the practice of law in Braintrec in 
1758, In 17G1 he found tliat the small lawyers and public 
houses had increased to such an extent that the inhabitants of 
the town were kept in a constant broil. To bring about a reform 
in this matter he declared open warfare upon them, as will be 
seen by the following extracts from his diary : 

"The dirty and ridiculous litigations have been multiplied in 
this town, till the very earth groans and the stones cry out. The 
town is become infamous for them throughout the county, I 
have absolutely heard it used as a jn-overb in several parts of the 

Land thereto bolonping, which said Crosby improved for a Tavern. Therefore 
he prayes the Court for a license to continue the business."— Mass, Arch. 

1. Tlie continent, accordins to the almanac of that day, was bounded on the 
south by South Carolina, on the west by the Missis.sijipi, on the north by Cana- 
da, on the east by the Atlantic ocean and the Eastern Provinces of Great 
Britain. 

23 



1-70 PUBLIC HOUSES. * 

Province, ' As litigious as Braintvee.' This multiplicity is 
owing to the multiplicity of pettifoggers, among whom Capt. 

H is one, who has given out that he is a sworn attorney 

till nine-tenths of the town really believe it. But I take this 
opportunity publicly to confront him and undeceive the town. 
He knows, in his conscience, that he never took the oath of an 
attorney, and that he dare not assume the impudence to ask to 
be admitted. Pie knows that the notion of his being a sworn 
attorney is an imposture — is an imposition upon this town. And 
I take this opportunity publicly to declare that I will take all 
legal advantages against every action brought by him, or by 

Capt. T , or by any other pettifogger in this town. For I 

am determined, if I live in this town, to break up this scene of 
strife, vexation and immorality. 

"Discharged my venom to Billy Veasey against the multi- 
tude, poverty, ill-government and ill-effects of licensed houses, 
and the timorous temper, as well as the criminal designs of the 
Selectmen who grant them approbation. Here the time, the 
money, the health and modesty of most that are young, and 
many old, are wasted ; here disease, vicious habits, bastards 

and legislators are frequently begotten. N would vote for 

any man for a little flip, or a dram. The number of these houses 
have been lately so much augmented, and the fortunes of tlie 
owners so much increased, that an artful man has little else to 
do but secure the favor of taverners, in order to secure the 
suffrages of the rabble that attend tliese houses, which in many 
towns within my observation makes a very large, perhaj)s the 
largest number of voters." 

Tins evil continued to increase until it culminated in active 
aggression by Mr. Adams in 17G1, he having an article inserted 
in the warrant^ for a town meeting to decrease the number of 
licensed houses in town, and through personal exertion at tliis 
meeting he Avas successful in accomjilishing this much needed 
reform. 

1. "Secondly: — 'To consider and determine upon some effectual method 
whereby to reduce the number of licensed Ijouses in the town, as it is thought 
the present number are unnecessary.' 

" After a full debate upon the second article it was, by a great majority of 



PUBLIC HOUSES. 171 

A public house was kept on Hancock street, near tlie residence 
of Col, A. B. Packard ; first by ^Ir. Cleverly, who was succeeded 
by Mr. Marsh in 1794. Afterwards Mr. Arnold kept the house 
until 1802. 

The next was in a house that stood on the site where Col. 
Packard's house now stands. Mr. John NcAvcomb, as landlord 
and proprietor, opened this house to the public in 1803, and con- 
tinued as its landlord until about 1820. At one time ]Mr. Ilayden 
conducted the house for Mr. Newconib. It Avas at this public 
house that Josiah Bemis, George Stearns and ]\Iichael Wild^ the 
three worthy Knights of the Iron Wedges, resorted in 1803, to 
enjoy their convivial repast on that memorable Sabbath, after 
having achieved the remarkable success of splitting, for the first 
time, a large stone with iron wedges. At that time this was con- 
sidered a great and important event, in establishing a system 
that would enable them more readily and expeditiously to work 
stone for building and other purposes. 

At tlie beginning of the present century a public house was 
opened on the Avosterly side of what is now Washington street, 
on Souther' s^llilj, Avhere now stands Mr. John Ii. Graham's 
house. Mr. Joseph Baxter was its host, and it was called the 
Hen Tavern. It is related that it derived its name from the 
following incident : — 

Mr. Baxter was one of the old patriots of the early part of 
this century, and a great admirer of the noble American bird, 
the eagle. After having selected an artist to execute a sign- 
board for his house, he gave him i)articular instructions that the 
American eagle should be represented on it. In due time the ar- 



the members present, voted : That, althonp;h licensed houses, so far as they are 
conveniently situated, well accommodated, and under due regulation, for the 
relief and entertainment of travellers and strangers, may be useful institutions, 
yet there is reason to apprehend that the present prevailin;; depravity of man- 
ners through the land in general, and in this town in particular, an<l the shamn- 
ful neglect of religious and civil duties, so highly oiTensive in the sight of God, 
and injurious to the peace and welfare of society, are in a great measure owing 
to the unnecessary increase of liceused houses. 

"Then voted: That for the future, there be no person in this town licensed 
for retailing of sj)irituons licjuors; ami that there be three persons only ap- 
probated by the Selectmen as Inuholders, suitably situated in each precinct." 



172 PUBLIC HOUSES. 

tist returned with the token of the landlord's occupation. For 
this occasion Mr. Baxter invited many of his old patrons and 
friends to be present, and partake of a social glass in honor of 
this event. What was the surprise and chagrin of the company 
when, on viewing the sign, they discovered, instead of the pi'oud 
American eagle, an ordinary hen ? 

This house was a great resort for the gunning fraternity. Here 
it was that they met on all their festive occasions, — the social 
balls and their convivial parties. Some fifty years ago this house 
was discontinued. 

A few years after the opening of the Neponset turnpike, the 
famous Neponset Hotel was erected by Mr. James Brackett. 
The lumber for its construction was brought from the State of 
Maine. The master-builder was Mr. Apollos Clapp of Dorches- 
ter. This hotel was opened to receive guests by its landlord, 
Mr. Abraham Pierce of Roxbury, in 1812,^ by a public dinner. 
Among the distinguished invited guests who were present on 

1. There having been so much controversy about the time of the opening of 
the Neponset Hotel in Qnincy, we will let the first landlord settle this question 
by the following public announcement, made by him of its i^^ opening, which 
appears to have been in April, 1812, at the White Oak Grove: 

"KEroNSET Hotel, at "White Oak Grove. 

" Abram Pierce' tenders his thanks to the numerous and respectable visitants 
who have favored him with their custom at the Hotel lately kept by him at 
Roxbury. At the same time he begs leave to inform the Ladies and Gentlemen 
of Boston and its vicinity, that he has just opened that neiv, spacioics and com- 
modioxts Hotel at White Oak Grove, being six miles from the Capital, and has 
laid in a large stock of ice for the ensuing summer, with every convenience to 
entertain Ladies and Gentlemen in style. He Hatters himself that, from the 
local situation of the place, its proximity to the Capital, the beauty of the road 
leading thereto, together with the convenience in warm weather of riding from 
the sun after meridian, will induce many to visit this beautiful i^lace, which 
nature has so decorated as to leave nothing for Art to attempt. It is on the 
road to Squantum, at the distance of a mile and a half. Those who resort to 
this ancient seat of amusement, either by land or by water, will find it to their 
advantage to contract with Mr. Pierce for everything necessary, to be delivered 
on the spot, conveniently and judiciously arranged. A few Gentlemen Board- 
ers also may be accommodated. 

"N. B. Shell Fish of all kinds, as well as every other kiud of fish known 
in our waters, will be received at the shortest notice, as also Turtles, whenever 
they can be bought in the market, and dressed in the best manner." — Colum- 
bian Centinal, April 29, 1812. 



riTBLIC HOUSES. 173 

this occasion was President Jolin Adams. The noted Jockey 
Chib, of Boston, lield tlieir social meetings here from 1812 to 
1815. By them was established the one-mile race course ^ on 
Billings Plain, which at this time would be bounded about as fol- 
lows, viz : — On the north by Atlantic street ; on the east by the 
tide waters and the Squantum marshes ; on the west by Hancock 
street, and partly on the South by Squantum street. The turf 
sports were witnessed by a large concourse of people from 
Quincy, Boston and the neighboring towns. Here were trotted 
the most celebrated blood horses of that day. This course, how- 
ever, was of short duration, as the public interest in horse-racing 
at this time was not sufficient to make it a financial success, and 
it was discontinued in about three years. Some two years after, 
another course was opened in the same locality, but was soon 
discontinued. Besides the race course the annual Pilgrims' feast 
at Squantum, in commemoration of the landing of the Pilgrim 
Fathers, brought a large concourse of people to this hotel on 
their way to their yearly festival.^ In 1828, the officers and crew 
of the noted United States Frigate, Constitution, engaged the 
entire control of the Neponset House of its landlord for three 

1. "We have examined the files of most of the principal newspapers of Bos- 
ton, during the period of years from 1812 to 1815, to see if we could find out if 
any other race course was in use at that time in Massachusetts, and have not 
been able to discover that there was. 'We have also made extensive inquiries of 
many persons whom we supposed would be able to give the desired information 
but have received the same negative response. Therefore we are quite confi- 
dent that this was the first race course ever established in Massachusetts. 

Billings Plain was also quite noted for brigade and regimental musters; as it 
was on this plain that a large number were held during the first half of the 
present century, commencing as early as 1804. 

2. "The Feast of Squantum was celebrated on Monday last with its accus- 
tomed hilarity. It is supposed there were from iiOO to GOO citizens, from town 
and country present. Among the invited guests were Gov. Strong, Lt. Gov. 
Phillips, Mr. Secretarj' Bradford, (Commodore Bainbriilge, Rev. l)r. Mor.se, 
Hon. Messrs. Fiske, Rice and Bartlett, and many gentlomon from the Southern 
States. On His Excellency's retiring, an escort was formed, under Maj. Quincy 
and Capt. Phelps, and marshalled by Mr. William Tileston, and the guests 
conducted to town, followed by a long train of carriages and chaises. The 
beautiful cutter Washington, John Andrews, Commander, anchored off the 
I'oint, and by her repeated and well adapted firings added much to the pleasure 
of the day."— Weekly Messenger, Aug. 28, 1812. 



174 ruBMc HOUSES. 

days, and held a highly enjoyable, convivial and social, although 
not a very reputable pastime. 

Mr. Andrew Seaton, in 1S17, succeeded Mr. Pierce as land- 
lord. Mr. Tilly Witcond) followed in 1818, a noted host of the 
old Concert Hall of Boston. After Mr. "VVitcondi, from 1820 to 
182'2, Mr. Joseph Tuttle was its landlord, and Avas very popular 
with the guests of this wayside inn, from whence he went to 
Dorchester, and became the proprietor and host of the old Savin 
Hill House, In 1825 Mr. Lambart Maynard took possession of 
this house, where he remained but a short time. The last land- 
lord of this celebrated house was Mr. Labian Adams, the father 
of Oliver Optic, and at one time landlord and proprietor of the 
old Laud) tavern in Boston. In 1830 Mr. Noah Davis Allen 
secured tlie premises as a caudle factory. This business lasted 
but a few years, and, in 1830, JMr. Joshua Cushing, of Scituate, 
purchased the building for a shoe manufactory and dwelling- 
house. The old dance hall was used at this^ time by the First 
Baptist Society of Dorchester on each Sabbath, for some tinie 
previous to the construction of their meeting-house. The Ne- 
ponset Hotel was located on the easterly side of Hancock street, 
about two hundred and fifty or three hundred feet north of 
where Atlantic street makes its junction with this street. It 
continued to be occupied by various ])ersons as tenants until 
August 27th, 1858, when it fell a prey to the incendiary's torch. 

The first hotel constructed opposite the Stone Temple was 
kept by Col. Thayer, followed by Capt. Young, Deacon Savil, 
and afterwards by Mr. Daniel French. The old house was re- 
moved, and a new one built in its place in 1837, at the cost of 
$5,000 and called the Hancock House, and has since been en- 
larged. It continiied to be kept a nund)er of years by Mr. 
Daniel French, until lie was succeedeil by his son, George II. 
French. Under the management of the Frenches this house was 
noted as a first-class hotel, as well as being for years the princi- 
pal tavern in town. After Mr. French, it was kept by several 
other popular landlords ^ until it was bought by Mr. Henry H. 

1. Landlords of the Hancock House, both old ami .now: Col. James Thayer, 
from ]80G to 1815; Capt. Young, Dea. Samuel Savil, Daniel French, from 1824 
to 1837 ; Daniel French & Son, from September, 1837, to July, 1841 ; George H. 




liRK'K RI.Or'K ON HANCOCK STRKET, QUINCV, 

EKKCTED IN 1^76, 

BY JOSEPH W. llOr.ERTSON, ESQ, 



PUBLIC IIOUSBS. 175 

Faxon, and is now occupied as a boarding-house for the students 
of the Adams Academy. 

For several years the town was witliont a tavern in the centre 
of the village. In 1874 a dwelling-house, near the corner of 
Granite and Hancock streets, was converted into a i)ublic-house, 
and called the Central House. This building was destroyed by 
fire August 'iCtli, 1875. On the same site, in 1876, was con- 
structed a large and commodious brick l>lock. The upper 
stories were converted into a spacious first-class modern hotel, 
Avhile the first flat was arranged for stores. This house was 
opened by Mr. William P. F. Meserve, one of the former land- 
lords of the old Hancock. House, and is called the Robertson 
House, in honor of its public-spirited proprietor. This was the 
first brick block of stores ever erected in this town. The first 
block of brick houses Avas constructed on Sea, now Chestnut 
street, in 1874. 

There are several other public houses in various parts of the 
town. At Wollaston Heights, the Wollnston Hotel ; shore 
houses at Scpiantum ; at Houghs Neck Mr. Mears', for transient 
private parties, but not for permanent boarders. West Quincy 
also had a hotel, the Willard House, which was burnt August 
12th, 1876, since which time it has been witliout a hotel. 

French, from July, 1841, to March, 1850; Daniel French, froru March, 1850, 
to April, ISjl; Geor;jre H. French, from April, 1851, to April, 1855; George H. 
Bundy, from April, 1855, to Xovember, ISoii; Albert Webb, from November, 
185(;, to February, 1801; William P. F. Meserve, from February, 1801, to No- 
vember, 18(i5; J. T. AVilley, from November, 1865, to October, 1870; Samuel T. 
Alleu, from October, 1870, to July, 1873. 



POST OFFICES. 



At the time the town was first settled, regular i^ost offices 
were unknown ; still a sort of a post oftice was established by 
the Colonial General Court as early as 1639.-^ It seems to have 
been the custom at that time for correspondents with and from 
England and the various colonies, to have their letters deposited 
in some public jjlace, such as tlie Town House or Exchange in 
Boston, or the taverns in small hamlets, villages or towns. Per- 
sons expecting written intelligence, or desiring to communicate 
with their friends, would visit these public i^laces of resort, and 
receive their letters or forward them to the place of destination 
at their pleasure. This careless and uncertain method of postal 
arrangement caused the Colonial Council, in 1677, to appoint 
John Hay ward ^ " post master for the whole colony." 

It was only a few years previous to this period, that the parent 
government had established a Post Oftice Department, as consti- 
tuted and managed at the present time. This method of trans- 

1. November 5th, 1G3!). "For preventing the miscarriage of letters, & it is 
ordered, that notice bee given that Richard Fairbanks, liis liouse in Boston, 
is the place appointed for all letters wliicli are brought from beyond the seas, or 
are to bee sent thither are to be brought unto; & he is to talie care that they be 
delivered or sent according to tlieir direction; and he is allowed for every such 
letter a Id, & must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect iu this 
kind; provided that no man shall bee compelled to bring his letter thither ex- 
cept he please." — Mass. Rec, Vol. I., p. 281. 

2. " In ans'r to the request of seuerall merchants of Boston, declaring that 
they haue heard many Complaints made by merchants and others that haue 
binn sencible of the losse of letters, whereby merchants, w'th their friends & 
imployers in forreigne parts, are greatly damified; many times letters are 
throune vpon the exchange, that who will may take them vp, &c. ; therefore 
humbly desire this court to depute some meet person to take in & convey let- 
ters according to y'r direction. This Court judgeth it meet to grant the peti- 
tioners' request herein, and haue made choyce of ISIr. John Hayward, the scriv- 
enner, to be the person for the service."— Mass. Rec, Vol. V., p. 147. 



POST OFFICES. 177 

mittini; the mails was carried into effect December 27th, 1660.' 
The management of the postal affairs was under the control 
of the colony until 1692 ; from this period till 1710, under the 
Province Law. 

For some time there had been considerable complaint and dis- 
satisfaction in regard to the careless and irregular method by 
whidi letters were transmitted. To relieve them of their com- 
l)laints, and also desiring to receive a greater revenue from tlieir 
colonial subjects, tlie home government established a post office 
111 North America, Avhich continued until the colonies were sepa- 
rated, and declared themselves a free and independent nation by 
the war of the Revolution. 

In 1784, a year after the close of tlie war, postal affairs in 
Massachusetts were quite limited.'^ 

At the first session of the first Congress, in 1789, a resolution 
of an experimental kind was passed, to establish rules and regu- 
lations for the transmission of tlie mails, and the question con- 
tinued to be agitated until 1792, when a law was enacted for the 
purpose of organizing a Post Oftice Department, also to define 
and shorten the mail routes. This law, however, was of a tempo- 
rary nature, as will be seen by the last clause in the act :— " That 
the act shall be in force for the term of two years from the first 
<lay of June next, and no longer." It was several years after this 
before the question was definitely settled. 

1. "Tlie King also commands his postmasters of England for foreign parts, 
to open a regular communication, by running post, between the metropolis and 
Edinburgh, West Chester, Holyhead, Ireland, Plymouth, Exeter, &c. Kates 
of postage:-One letter, carried under 80 miles, L'd; under 140 miles, 4d; above 
that distance in England, Od ; to any part of Scotland, 8d. Even as late as be- 
tween 1731) and 1740, the post was only transmitted three days a week between ' 
Edml.urgh and London, and the metropolis on one occasion only sent a sim/lc 
litter, which was for an Edinburgh banker named Kamsay."-Hayden'3 Diet, 
of Dates. 

-'. I'ostmaster General, Ebenezer Hay ward, Esq., Boston; Assistant or 
clerk, Mr. James Byron; Postmaster at Boston, Mr. Jonathan Hastings; I'ost- 
master at Salem, Mr. Mascal Williams; I'ostmaster at Ipswich, Mr. Daniel 
Xoycs; Po.stmaster atXewburyport. Mr. Burkley Emer.sou; Postmaster at Fal- 
mouth, Mr. Samuel Freeman; Postmaster at Worcester, Mr. Isaiah Thomas; 
Po.stma.ster at Springlield, Mr. Moses Church. This seems, by the Massachu- 
setts Register, to have been the extent of the mail arrangements in the State. 
24 



178 POST OFFICES. 

We are unable to give the reason why the post office in Quincy 
was not established until three years after its separation and in- 
corporation, unless it was that Congress had not sufficiently per- 
fected the law to make the appointment. The first postmaster 
was Mr. Richard Cranch, who received his commission April 1st, 
1795,^ This post office was located in the southeasterly corner 
of Mr. Cranch's domain, on School street, in a small building 
placed there for the purpose. This fine estate is now in the pos- 
session of Mr. James Edwards. 

Mr. Cranch's death occurred in 1811, and Dr. Benjamin Vin- 
ton was appointed to succeed him January 1st, 1812. Dr. 
Vinton removed the office to his house on Granite street, corner 
of Hancock street, (next to the residence of the late John 
Briesler,) which is still standing. 

Dr. Vinton died in 1813, having held the office somewhat over 
one year. After his decease Mr. Mottrani Veazie, the old Town 
Clerk, whose portrait still hangs in the Selectmen's Room, re- 
ceived his commission as postmaster October 1st, 1813. During 
Mr. Veazie's administration the office was kept at his residence,^ 
on Hancock street, where the Hancock Hotel, (now the Adams 
Academy boarding-house,) stands. 

At the death of Mr. Veazie, he was succeeded by Mr. Daniel 
French, August 11th, 1825.^ Mr. French continued in office 

1. " The following were the rates of postage at that time for single letters; 
douhle letters were to pay double, and triple letters triple: 

30 miles, ... 

(50 " ... 

100 " - . - 

150 " - - - 

200 " ... 

"The Southern and Eastern mails were to run three times a week. The South- 
ern mails were to arrive at Boston for six months, from the first of May to the 
first of November, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, by noon; and to 
leave Boston Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at noon. From the first of 
November to the first of May, the mails arrived at Boston on Monday, Wednes- 
day and Friday, at ten o'clock in the forenoon; and were to leave Monday, 
Wednesday and Friday, at one o'clock in the afternoon." 

2. It is related that Governor Shirley at one time occupied this house as his 
residence. 

3. It is stated in the Massachusetts Register that Mr. Savil was postmaster 
in Quiucy from 1824 to 1831. This must be a mistake, as the official record at 



f) cents. 


250 miles, 


17 cents 


8 " 


350 " ... 


20 " 


10 " 


450 " ... 


22 " 


12i " 


More than 450 miles, 


24 " 


15 " 







POST OFFICES. 179 

until March 20th, 1849, having held the position for twenty-four 
successive years; if we include his re-appointment in 1853, 
which lasted about one year, it would make twenty-five years 
that he served the public in this capacity. Mr. French trans- 
acted the business of the office in his hotel, which was the old 
Veazie house, until he erected a more spacious hotel in 18,37, on 
the same site. 

A political change in administration of the government caused 
Mr. French to be removed, and Dr. "William B. Bugbee succeed- 
ed him March 20th, 1849. This was the first removal of a post- 
master on political grounds since the incorporation of the town. 
Dr. Bngbce transferred the office to his apothecary shop, in the 
Town House, where the National Mt. Wollaston liank now is. 

The late Francis Williams, Avho succeeded Dr. W. B. liugbce, 
received his commission as postmaster September 8th, 1851, and 
secured the building now occupied by Mr. John O. Iloldcn, No. 
87 Hancock street, for a post office. Mr. Williams being con- 
nected in more lucrative and important business, jirocured the 
services of Mr. Lysander S. Richards as acting postmaster. 

On the election of Mr. Pierce, in 1852, as President, Mr. 
Daniel French, September 19th, 1853, was re-appointed as post- 
master. Mr. French removed the office to his residence on 
Temple street, which is now occupied by Mr. G. F. Wilson as a 
provision store. 

Mr. John A. Green, the originator, former proprietor and edi- 
tor of the Quincy Patriot, received his appointment October 
21st, 1854. Mr. Green removed the office to No. 87 Hancock 
street, the same building where Mr. Williams conducted the 
business of the office. Gen. Donahue and Mr. James INI. Beck- 
ford were the acting postmasters under Mr. Green's adminis- 
tration. 

During Mr. Buchanan's Presidency, Deacon George Baxter 
received a commission September 24th, 1858, as postmaster for 
this town. Mr. Baxter removed the post office to the Town 
House, and occupied the room that is now used by the Selectmen. 

Washington gi\-es no account of his appointment. This error evidently occurs 
from tho circumstance of Mr. Savil's acting for Mr. Veazie while out of health. 
The Massachusetts Register we consider of little authority. 



180 



POST OFFICES. 



On the election of Mv. Lincoln as President, Deacon Baxter 
was removed, and Mr. George L. Gill appointed in liis place, 
April 18th, 1861. Mr. Gill establislied the office at No. 84 
Hancock street, M'here the Qnincy .Savings Bank is now located, 
and was re-appointed June 16th, 1865. 

On the election of Gen. Grant, who desired to rcAvard disabled 
soldiers of the late war, Mr. John B. Bass was api>ointed to suc- 
ceed Mr. Gill. Mr. Bass received his commission September 
21st, 1866, and removed the office to Mr. Veazie's apothecary 
shop, No. 95 Hancock street. After remaining there several 
years, he removed the office to No. 80, on the opposite side of 
the street, where it is still kept under his administration. It 
wdl be seen that there have been but ten postmasters in Qnincy 
for the space of nearly a century, or eighty-five years, until the 
recent appointments of offices for local accommodation. 

The first post office established in Braintree was in February, 
1825, and Avas kept on Washington street, in the house of Mr. 
Asa French, who was appointed the first postmaster. The first 
office located in South l^raintree was March 13th, 1845, and Jud- 
son Stoddard, Esq., received his commission as the first post- 
master. This office stood on the corner of AVashington and 
Pearl streets. The office at the present time is under the man- 
agement of Mrs. Elias Hayward, widoAV of the late local histo- 
rian of the toAvn, and who for several years i)revious to his de- 
cease Avas the postmaster. North and P:ast Braintree are 
accommodated Avith ample postal facilities ; also Randoljih and 
Holbrook. 

There are, at the present time, in the four tOAvns formerly 
comprising the old township of Braintree, ten post offices, as 
folloAvs :— Central office, at Quincy; Atlantic office, for the ac- 
commodation of the North Quincy village ; also one each at 
Wollaston Heights, Quincy Point and West Quincy. The fol- 
lowing are the present locations of the three Braintree jiost 
offices : The Braintree office, located at the corner of Washing- 
ton and Elm streets ; South l^raintree, at the corner of Wash- 
ington street and Holbrook avenue ; and one at East Braintree. 
There is one at Bandolph; two at Holbrook, called the Hol- 
brook and Brookville offices. 



KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



FIRST CHURCH. 

— \ 

The religious history of Quincy .sliould be passed by with no 
hasty glance, for it is radiant with i)oiiits of rrroat interest. It 
was here and at Boston that Antinomianisni reaehed its ]iei<,ditli ; 
here was settled one of the first and greatest advocates of Vm- 
tarianisni, and among the first settlers of this town can be 
mentioned men of great intellect and high cultnre, but zealous 
advocates of liberalism. 

The religious history of this town begins with the year 163G, 
when the inhabitants of Mount Wollaston, which was then a 
l)art of Boston, petitioned that they might have a minister. 
This was reluctantly granted, and after some discussion i\Ir. 
Wheelwright was delegated to preach at the Mount. This was in 
fact nothing more than a branch of the first church of ]>oston, 
over which John Wilson was settled as pastor, or rather as JElder, 
as ministers were called in those days. Mr. Wilson was one of 
the earliest Pilgrims, having come from England in Gov. Win- 
throjj's company in 1630. He was ordained as pastor over this 
church soon after his arrival, and officiated until his death, which 
occurred in 1667, he then being 78 years of age. He was among 
the first grantees of Mount Wollaston. 

Associated with Mr. Wilson as teacher of the first church was 
the famous John Cotton, of whom ]\Ir. Lunt says: — "His opin- 
ions were looked ui)on as law, and he is spoken of by the histo- 
rians of the j)eriod as doing more than any other individual to 
fix the principles of Congregationalism, and tu mouM into the 
form which they have in the main preserved to this day, our ec- 
clesiastical institutions and observances." 



182 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

It was here at Mount Wollaston and during Wheelwright's ad- 
ministration, that the first seeds of Antinomianism were sown in 
New England. This doctrine, as a plant, flourished for a while, 
but soon faded and passed away. Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, its 
principal advocate, was wont to gather at her house, after the 
weekly lectures at Mr. Cotton's meeting-house, her associates 
and friends, then to discuss the meagreness of the doctrines 
preached. Mrs. Hutchinson^ came over to this country in Sep- 

1. The theologians who were opposed to Mrs. Hutchinson and her Antino- 
mian doctrines, excused their expelling her from the colonies for her religious 
belief by saying it was for the falsehood of her declarations. Some of the Puri- 
tan writers go so far as to state that her sad death, by being massacred by the 
Indians, was a remarkable judgment of God for her heresies. Mr. Weld, an 
ardent divine at that period, says in his work "that she was delivered of as 
many unformed fretus's at a birth as she maintained errors, and that another 
actress was delivered of a monster, and that all the women were seized with a 
violent vomiting and purging. Stories as creditable as that regarding the 
Flanders Countess, who is said to have had as many children at a birth as there 
are days in a year." 

Samuel Gorton, friendly to the Antinomian cause, the author of a small tract 
published in 167(5, under the title of " A Glass for the People of New England," 
relates, " The next piece of wickedness I am to mind you of is your barbarous 
action committed against Mrs. Hutchinson, whom you first imprisoned, then 
banished, and so exposed her to that desolate condition that she fell into the 
hands of the Indians, who murdered her and her family, excepting one child, 
and after that made a notorious He on the destroyed woman, which Samuel 
Clark, priest of London, taking the lie out of his brother Weld's short story, 
must needs put it into his book called ' God's Judgment against Heresy.' The 
woman before mentioned, ha%'ing been by the priests and professors pumped 
and sifted to get something against her, laying their snares to entrap her, and 
taking their opportunity when husband and friends, as it were said, were ab- 
sent, examined and banished her. So she goes by water, with many others 
who perceived they must go to pot next, and providentially fell in with Rhode 
Island, where they made a cave or caves, and in them lived until the cold win- 
ter was pas.sed, in which time it was known to the profe.ssors where they were, 
.and that they had bought the island of the Indians. And the professors began 
to stir and endeavor to bring the island within the compass of their patent. 
So the poor molested woman, it is like, let in fear, and thought she would go far 
enough from their reach; so, going southward to seek a place to settle upon, 
there she and her family might live in quietness, fell upon a piece of land that 
was in controversy between the Dutch and the natives, and the natives being 
in a heat came upon them and were the executioners of what the New England 
priests, magistrates and church members were the occasion, through their 
wicked and cruel proceedings in forcing them to flee from their rage and fury. 



BHLIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 183 

tember, 1634. Her husband had a grant of land made to liim 
at Mount Wollaston, whicli afterwards, by investigation, was 
found to be mostly in the town of Milton. She is described as a 
woman of great gift of speech, and powers of mind keen enough 
to loosen the tightest knots of metaphysical polemics ; but Weld 
in his book says she was " a woman of a hauglity and fierce car- 
riage, of a nimble wit and active spirit, and a very voliiablo 
tongue, more bold than a man, though in understanding and 
judgment inferior to many women." Yet this description from 
Weld must be taken with some allowance, as he was a bitter 
antagonist of Antinomianism. Wliatever her powers were, true 
it is that she converted to her doctrine some of the most learned 
and influential men then residing in this vicinity, viz : John 
Wheelwright, Henry Vane, William Coddington, Mr, Dummer, 
Mr. Haugh and Thomas Savage. 

"Henry Vane descended from a family which had been long 
distinguished in English History. He was born in 1612, emi- 
grated to America in 1635, and was received in Boston with 
every demonstration of respect. In 1636 he was elected Gover- 
nor of Massachusetts, being then only twenty-four years of age. 

So, readier, thou mayest see the rajie and envy of thia professing generation, for 
they imprisoned and banished this tenderly bred woman in or toward winter, 
and what with fear and tossing to and fro the woman miscarried, upon which 
they grounded their abominable untruth. Many witnesses might be produced 
to prove this, and to disprove their abominable, frequently told slanders, and 
also printed by priests, and New England professors, and their confederates 
here in England." 

The only apology we are able to make on this seeming unjust persecution is, 
that it was an intolerant age. Toleration was preached against as a sin of the 
greatest magnitude, and which, if encouraged, would bring down the eternal 
judgment of heaven upon them and the colonies. So confirmed was Gov. Dud- 
ley in this Itelief that, at the time of his death, there was found in his breeches 
ptxket, {the receptacle of many unprepared oratorical dinplays, ) this sentiment, 
fully written out in verse, of which the following two lines were the essence: 
" Let men of God, in court and churches watch 
O'er such as do a toleration hatch." 

" This doctrine prevailed many years, until their eyes were opened by a fresh 
persecution coming upon themselves from King James. This made his decla- 
ration for general liberty of conscience welcome, and they thanked the King for 
allowing to them what they before thought themselves bound in conscience to 
d«uy to others." 



184 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

His party was, liowever, put down,^ and he sailed for England in 
August, 1637. He was a member of the Long Parliament, and 
a decided and consistent friend of liberty, although he disaj)- 
proved of the trial and execution of King Charles. He was too 
pure and just not to be an object of hatred and suspicion to 

] . In 1(j37 an election was held for the choice of a governor, deputy gover- 
nor, and other officers of the colony. The religious excitement ran so high at 
this time that this election was as hotly contested between the Puritans and the 
Antinomian leaders as any ever held in New England, if not more so. Tlie 
contest became so earnest that the Kev. Mr. Wilson, the first minister of Bos- 
ton, mounted the branch of a tree with his coat off, which was probably the first 
stump or tree speech ever made in Massachusetts. This political or religious 
contest was held on Newton Common, in the open air, in accordance with the 
custom of holding elections in old England at the hustings for the choice of 
members of Parliament. It is evident that the reason for selecting Newton as 
the place for election was for the purpose of getting away from the influence of 
Boston, as that was the stronghold of Antinomianism. From the branch of the 
tree Mr. Wilson harangued the multitiUle upon the religious aspect of the case, 
and denounced Antinomianism in no very liberal terms. This declamation, it 
is said, carried the election in favor of Gov. "Winthrop, and was the cause of 
the defeat of Gov. Vane, to the great chagrin of himself and his friends. 

The following is Hutchinson's account of the election: — 

"At the opening of the Court of Election, 1037, which was not done until 
one o'clock, May 17th, a petition was again oifered from many of the town of 
Boston, which the governor, Mr. Vane, would have read; but Mr. Winthrop, 
the deputy governor, opposed it as being out of order, this being the day by 
charter for elections, and the inhabitants all convened for that purpose, if other 
business was allowed to take up the time the election would be prevented; after 
the elections were over, the petition might be read. The governor and those of 
his parly would not proceed unless the petition was read. The time being far 
spent, and many persons calling for election, the deputy governor called to the 
people to divide and llie greater number should carry it; which was done, and 
the greater number was for proceeding. Still the governor refused, until the 
deputy governor told him they would go on without him; this caused him to 
submit. Mr. Winthrop was chosen governor, Mr. Dudley deputy governor, INIr. 
Saltoustall, son of Sir Kichard, and Mr. Stoughton, new assist;uits, and Mr. 
^'ane and his friends of the same persuasion, Dummer, Haugh and Codding- 
tou, left out of the magistracy. There was great danger of a violent tunnilt 
that day. The speeches on both sides were fierce, and they began to lay hands 
one on another, but the manifest majority on one side Avas a restraint to the 
other. Boston waited the event of this election of magistrates before they 
would choose their representatives for the other business of the General Court, 
and the next morning they chose Mr. Vane, the late governor, Mr. Coddington 
and Mr. Haugh. This election of Boston was immediately determined by the 
Court to be undue. The reason is not assigned in the record, but it is said this 



BELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 185 

Cromwell, when that ambitious personage had secured to him- 
self the supreme power. After the death of Oliver Cromwell, 
Vane came forth from his retirement and became a member of 
Parliament, where he was instrumental, by his eloquence, in 
overthrowing the government of Richard Cromwell. Upon the 
restoration of the monarchy, Vane, who had always been a 
decitled Republican, was seized and impi*isoned, and finally 
beheaded. After he had been condemned to death it was sug- 
gested that by making submission to the King, his life might i)er- 
haps be saved. His noble reply was, ' If the King does not think 
himself more concerned for his honor and word than I am for 
my life, let him take it. Nay, I declare, that I value my life less 
in a good cause than the king can do his promise. He is so 

reason was given, that all the freemen were not notified. A warrant was issued 
for a new choice, and Boston returned the same men again, and then they were 
not rejected. The sergeants who used to attend Mr. Vane laid down their hal- 
berds and went home as soon as the new governor was elected, and they refused 
to attend him to and from the meetings on the Lord's Day, as had been usual. 
They pretended this extraordinary respect was shown to Mr. Vane as a person 
of quality. The Court would have appointed others, but Mr. Winthrop took 
two of his servants to attend him. Mr. Vane professed himself ready to serve 
the cause of God in the meanest capacity. He was, notwithstanding, n)uch 
mortified, and discovered his resentment. Although he had sat at church 
among the magistrates from his first arrival, yet he and those who had been left 
out with him placed themselves with the deacons, and when he was iuvited by 
the governor to return to his place he refused it." 

" An extraordinary act made by the General Court this season very much 
heightened the discontent. Many persons of the favorite opinions in Boston 
were expected from England. A penalty, therefore, was laid on all persons who 
sliould entertain in their houses any stranger who came with intent to reside, 
or should allow the use of any lot or habitation above three weeks without lib- 
erty from one of the standing council or two other assistants. The penalty on 
I)rivate persons was forty pounds, and twenty pounds besides for every month 
they continued in the offence. And any town whicli gave and sold a lot to such 
stranger was subject to one hundred pounds penalty ; but if any inhabitant of 
such place .should enter his dissent with a magistrate, he was to be excused his 
part of the fine. This was a very severe order, and so disliked by the people of 
Boston that upon the return of the governor from Court they refused to go out 
to meet him or show him any respect." 

Mr. Cotton was so di.ssatisfied with this law that he says "he intended to 
have removed out of the jurisdiction to Quinnypicak, since called New Haven, 
but finding the law was not improved to exclude such persons as he feared it 
would be, he altered his mind." 

25 



186 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

sufficiently obliged to spare my life that it is fitter for him to do 
it than for me to seek it.' " ^ 

Mr. Wheelwright was the brother-in-law of Mrs. Hutchinson, 
and a zealous advocate of her doctrines. He arrived in Boston 
on the 26th of May, 1036, and on the eighth of October of the 
same year was granted a right to preach at Mount Wollaston, 
and here, on the twentieth of the next January, it being a 
specially appointed Fast Day, he preached the famous sermon 
which finally occasioned his expulsion from the colony. The 
text of this sermon was taken from Matthew ix : 15, "And 
Jesus said unto them, can the children of the bridechamber 
mourn as long as the bridegroom is with tliem ? But the day 
will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and 
then shall they fast." This sermon set forth the doctrine of 
Antinomianism in a very lucid manner. On account thereof 
Winthrop says that, at a court which began Maich 9, 1636-7, 
Ml'. Wheelwright was adjudged "guilty of sedition, and also of 
contempt."- Sentence was deferred, however. There followed 

1. See Life of Vane, by Eev. C, W. Upliani. Spark's Biography. 

2. " It was coiicliuled by the Court that Mr. Wheelwright was guilty of con- 
tempt ami sedition." March i), l(i3()-7. 

" Mr. John Wheelwright was enjoyned to appear at the next session of this 
Court, to answer further or receive such sentence as the cause shall require." 
May 17, l(i37. 

" Mr. William Aspinwall, being questioned in reyard to his hand was to a peti- 
tion or remonstrance, & he justified the same, maintaining it to be lawful!, the 
Court did discharge him from being a member thereof. Mr. John Coggesliali, 
affirming that Mr. Wheelwright is innocent & that he was persecuted for the 
truth, was in like sort dismissed from being a member of the Court." H'mT. 

" Mr. John Wheelwright, being formerly convicted of contempts sedition, 
& now justifying himself, & his former practise being to the disturbance of the 
civill peace, bee is by the Court disfranchised & banished, having 14 dayes to 
settle his affaires, & if within that time he dei)art not the patent, bee promises 
to render himselfe to Mr. Stoughton, at his house, to'bee kej)! till bee bee dis- 
])o.sed of. & Mr. Hofx undertook to satisfy any charge tliat bee, Mr. Stough- 
ton, or the country should bee at." 2 November, l(io7. 

Mr. Savage, in his Winthrop, relates in reference to disarming the friends of 
Mr. Wheelwright and Mrs. Hutchinson, tliat, " in no part of the history of any 
of the United States, perhaps, can a parallel be found for this act." This high- 
lianded injustice left them without any protection to themselves or tlieir fam- 
ilies from the scalping knife, or the horrors and barbarism of an Indian mas- 
sacre. And all this persecution for their religious belief! 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 187 

reinonstranccs and petitions from tlie governor, (Mr. Vane,) and 
other dissenters, as well as from the Boston First Church, justi- 
fying the sermon and condemning the court's jiroeeetlings. A 
synod was also convened, consisting of all the ministers of the 
colony, l»y ^\Ii()ni the theological questions involved in the con- 
troversy Avere discussed. This assend)ly terminated unfavorably 
for Mr. Wheelwright. In the mean time a political revolution 
liad been effected. Vane and Coddington, friends of Wheel- 
wright, had been left out of the offices they had ])reviously held. 
At lengtli, " the General Court being assembled, in the 2d of the 
9tli month, and finding upon consultation that two so opposite 
jiarties could not continue in the same body without ajiparent 
ha;5ard of ruin to the whole, agreed to send away some of the 
principals, &c. Then the Court sent for oNfr. Wheelwright. lie 
persisted in justifying his sernuui, whole jiractice and o})inions, 
refusing to loave either the place or liis jjublic exercises. lie 
was disfranchised and banished, upon which he appealed to the 
King, but neitlier called witnesses nor desired any act to be made 

" Whereas, the opinions antl revelations of Mr. Wlieelwrinlit and Mrs. 
Hutchinson have sednccMl nml led into danserons errors many of the people 
heare in Newe England, inasnuuh as there is just cause of suspilion that tliey, 
as others in Germany in former times, may, upon some revelation, make some 
suddain irruption upon those that differ from tiiem in jud^nient; for preven- 
tion whereof it is ordered that all those whose names are underwritten shall, 
(upon warning given or left at their dwelling-houses,) hefore the .'JOth day of this 
month of Xovemher, deliver in at Mr. Cane's (orCapt. Jveayne, as it was after- 
wards spelt,) house at Boston, all such guns, pistols, swords, powder, shot and 
match as th(!y shall hee owners of, or have in their custody, upon paine of tenn 
pounds for every default to bee made thereof, wliich arms are to bee kept by 
^Ir. Cane till this Court sliall take further order therein. Also it is ordered upor> 
like penalty of £X, tliat no man who is to render his aims by lliis or<ler shall 
buy or borrow any guns, swords, pistols, powder, shot or match, untill this 
Court shall take further order therein. 

"The names of Uoston men to bo disarmed: Capt. John Underbill, Mr. 
Thon)as Oliver, William llutchin.son, William Aspinwall, Samuel Cole, Wil- 
liam I^ver, Edward IJainsfoard, John Uutton, John Sanfoard, Kiehard Cooke, 
lUchard Fairbanks, Thomas Marshall, Oliver Mellows, Samuel Wilbore, John 
Oliver, Hugh Gunnison, John Biggs, Richard Gridley, P^dward Bates, Wil- 
liam Dinely, William Litherland, Mathewe Jyans, Henry Elkins, Zache Bos- 
worth. Robert Rice, William Townsend, Robert Hull, WillianivPell, Richard 
Hutchinson, James Johnson, Thomas Savage, John Davy, George Burden, 
John Odiin, Garoa Wayte, Edward Hutchinson, William Wilson, Isaack 



188 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

of it. The Court told him an appeal did not lie ; for by the 
King's grant we had power to hear and determine without any 
reservation, &c. So he relinquished his appeal, and the Court 
gave him leave to go to his house, upon liis promise that, if he 
were not gone out of our jurisdiction within fourteen days, he 
would render himself to one of tlie magistrates." ^ This Avas in 
the latter part of November, 1637. 

After leaving here, he went into New Hampshire and founded 
the town of Exeter. He remained there until 1642. " The in- 
habitants of Exeter, finding themselves comprehended within 
the claims of Massachusetts, petitioned the Court, and were 
readily admitted (Sept. 8) under their jurisdiction, and they 
were annexed to the county of Essex. Upon this. Wheelwright, 
who Avas still under sentence of banishment, with those of his 
church who were resolved to adhere to him, removed into the 
province of Maine and settled at Wells." 

In 1643, September 10th, Mr. Wheelwright wrote Gov. Win- 
throp a letter, in which he confessed that he had pressed his 
theological views too far, and urged them with an iindue warmth, 

Groose, Richard Carder, Robert Hardinge, Richard Wayte, John Porter, 
James Penniman, Thomas Wardell, William Wardell, Jacob Eliot, Thomas 
Matson, "William Banlston, John Compton, Mr. Parker, William 3^'reeborn, 
Henry Bull, John Walker, William Salter, Edward Bendall, Thomas Wheeler, 
Mr. Clark, Mr. John Coggeshall."— Mass. Rec, Vol. I, pp. 211, 212. 

The same order was served on the towns of Salem, Neweberry, Roxbuerry, 
Ipswich and Charlestown. The persons at Mount Wollaston that were dis- 
armed have been enumerated with the Boston men, as the Mount at that time 
was a part of Boston. 

By the order of the Court the followers of Wheelwright and Hutchinson 
might retain their arms by renouncing their belief in the doctrine of Antino- 
mianism:— "It was ordered, that if any that are to bee disarmed acknowledge 
their sinn in subscribing the seditious libell, or do not justify it, but acknowl- 
edge it evill to two magistrates, they shall bee thereby freed from delivering in 
their amies according to the former order." Many of the disarmed people 
were the most distinguished persons in the colony, and quite a number of their 
descendants became renowned in the historical annals of the Commonwealth. 

After Mr. Wheelwright's expulsion and banishmenr, he emigrated in mid- 
winter through the deep snows, into the wilderness of New Hampshire, (and 
it was a wonder to many that he did not perish,) and there, by the Falls of 
Piscataquack, organized a township and called it Exeter. 

1. Winthrop's History. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 189 

and upon this his sentence of banishment was soon after re- 
leased. Being restored to the freedom of the colony, he removed 
to Hampton, whore he ministered many years. 

In tlie year 1658, according to Farmer, he was in England, 
and was in favor with the Protector, Cromwell, and they are said 
to have been school-fellows. And the anecdote has been handed 
down that Cromwell declared Wheelwright to be the only per- 
son he ever was afraid of at foot-ball. 

Upon the fall of the Commonwealth and the restoration of the 
royal government in England, Wheelwright returned and settled 
at Salisbury, and there died, Xovember 15th, 1679. "He 
lived," says Hutchinson, "to be the oldest minister in the colony, 
which would have been taken notice of if his persecutors had 
not remained in power." 

Mr. Wheelwright, according to the same authority, was " sev- 
eral years in England, and lived in the neighborhood of Sir 
Henry Yane, who had been his patron in Xcav England, and now 
took great notice of him. Vane being disalTected to Cromwell, 
it is not likely that Cromwell had any great esteem for Wlieel- 
wright ; yet he sent for him by one of his guards, and after a 
very orthodox discourse, according to Mr. Wheelwright's appre- 
hensions of orthodoxy, and without showing countenance to 
sectaries, he exhorted him to perseverance against his opposers, 
and assured him their notions would vanish into nothing. This 
meeting effectually engaged Mr. Wheelwright in Cromwell's 
favor." 

William Coddington, Esq., the munificent donor of our school 
lands, from which this town has reaped great benefit in good 
schools for many years past, was another convert. He came to 
this country with Gov. Winthrop. In the dedication to Calleii- 
der's Century Discourse, addressed to Hon. William Coddington, 
there is the following : — " Your honored grandfather, William 
Coddington, Esq., was chosen in Elngland to be an assistant of 
the colony of the Massachusetts Bay, A. D. 1029, and in 1630 
came over to New England with the governor and the charter, 
<fec. ; after which he was several times re-chosen to that honora- 
ble and important office. He was for some time treasurer of the 
colony. He was with the chiefest in all public charges and a 



190 llKl-IGTOUS SOCIETIES. 

principal morclinnt of l)Ostoii, wliorc, it is snid, lie built the first 
brick house. 

"In the year IGoT, when the contentions ran so hig-h in the 
country, he was grieved at the proceedings ot" the court agninst 
Mr. Wheelwright and others. And M'hen he found that his o]>- 
position to these measures was ineffectual, he entered his pro- 
test, that his dissent might apjiear to succeeiling times; and, 
though he was in the fairest way to be great in the IMassnchu- 
setts as to outward things, yet he voluntarily quitted his advan- 
tageous situation at IJoston, his large property and his imjirove- 
ments at Braintrce for ])eace sake, and tln.t he might defend, 
])rotect and assist the ]uous ])eo]»le who were meditating a re- 
moval from that colony on account of their religious differences." 
After leaving Massachusetts he went to l^hode Island and 
founded that colony. lie was elected their chief ruler annually 
for seven years. In the year l(i47 he assisted in fornuiig a body 
of laws which has been the foundation of the constitution and 
government of IMiode Island ever since. '•'In Kif)! he had a 
commission fnnn the supreme authority then in Knglaml to be 
governor of the island, persuant to the j)owers reserved in the 
])atent." Some trouble having arisen under the ch.irter, he read- 
ily laid down his commission. .After this he seems to have 
retired from jiublic business till toward the latter end of his 
days, "when he was again divers times prevailed with tt) take the 
government upon him. He died November 1st, 1G78, in the 
seventy-eighth yvAv of his age. Thus, after he had the honor 
to be the hrst judge and governor of this islaml, (Kliode Island,) 
after he had sjient much oi his estate and tlie jirime of his life 
in propagating plantations, he dii'd governor of the colony."^ 

Mr. Adams, in his address at the opening of the Town Hall 
in l>raintree, in speaking of Mr. Coddington said, "His memory 
is now holden in honor among the pt-oph' of that State, as that 
of ]Minos and Charontlas, Lycargus and Zaleucus, was held by 
those of ancient (ireet'e, as the foundt-rs and legislators oi 
nations. Such a life supplies a most signiticant Marning of the 
folly and conti'utions and strife of zealous and mutual hatred, 

1. Seo Callender's Century Sermon. Rhode Island Hist. So. Col., Vol. "V. 



UELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 191 

as they sonu'times arise from tlio most insignilicaiit causes, in 
the midst of the best ordered communities. 

Altlioug:!! Mr. Coddiiigton h;ul a large grant of land at the 
IVIount, we are of an oi)inion that he never residetl there. lie, 
like many others, held the land for sale, as a matter of profit 
rather than a place of domicile. My reasons for this statement 
are these : — December 14th, 1(385, the ninth month of the yeai-, a 
committee was appointed by the court to lay out at the IMownt 
certain portions of land for ."Mr. William Coddington and ^Ii-. 
Kdujund CJuincy. This committee made their report gi-anting 
them their allotments ]\[areh 14tli, 1G;JG. This was the date or 
time that tliey legally came in possession of their grants. In 
.January, IGoG, Mr. Coddington, Mr. Vane and others, came to 
the Mount from Uoston, to keep Fast Day with Mr. Wheel- 
wright. On tliis occasion was delivered that famous sermon 
that set the whole colony in a blaze, and it was so extensive and 
intense that it severely scorched' several of the eminent Puritan 
divines, such as the Ilev. Mr. Cotton, Cotton ]\[ather and others. 
Immediately after the preaching of this sL'rmon the followers of 
]Mr. Wheelwright were, by order of the court, condemned for 
"contempt and sedition," and were soon ordered to leave tlie 
colony. On March I'ith, 1G37-8, a warrant was issued for Mr. 
Coddington and his friends to depart from it. IJy the si)irit of 
this warrant it would appear that they were expelled at their 
own request, they anticipating that this method was the better 
way, and the most judicious manner to get out of the difficulty 
of having the jjcnalty of banishment pronounced upon them, 
or they may have only intended a short absence and to return 
again. 

The authorities may have been more lenient towards Mr. 
C<»<ldingt(in on account of the many high public trusts that he 
had held, (he was deputy of IJoston up to the tinu' he left,) 
whifh were administered by hitu with great fidelity and e\em- 
jilary justice. Still, witli all this professed willingness to leave, 
the court were api)rehensive that there might be some trickery 
about tliL' iiiattcT. 'J'o j)r(.'\(.'iil any furtln'r tiouMc they took 
precautionary measures for that purjiose, by cnaeting an order 
so that the court could not be caught by deception, even if those 



192 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

who were banished only intended a temporary absence for the 
purpose of evading the law.^ 

In summing up the question of Mr. Coddington having re- 
sided there, first we find that he did not obtain full possession of 
his grant until March, 1636, and a few months after came out to 
the Mount to attend Mr. Wheelwright's fast-day sermon, which 
would indicate that he did not reside there at that time. This 
sermon had created so much feeling and opposition to Mr. Cod- 
dington and other friends of Mr. Wheelwright as to have them 
adjudged guilty of "contempt and sedition." Mr. Coddington, 
with the understanding of this decision of the court, very well 
knew that in all probability he could not remain in the colony 
but a short time ; therefore he, a careful man as he was, would 
not be likely to erect a house there, Avhen he knew that it was 
almost a positive fact that his expulsion was inevitable. Then 
again, his public and civil duties at Boston would engage all his 
time in this perilous period, as he was a very active business 
man as well as an energetic public servant ; neither do we think 
that he would desire to relinquish his fine residence that he had 
so recently constructed in the town of Boston, (the first brick 
house, it is said, built there,) to come to the Mount through the 
wilderness of woods, as there were no roads at that time, and the 
access to the Mount was accomplished with great difiiculty, for 
the mere purpose of sleeping over night. From this statement 
and other investigations Ave have made, we are very confident 
that Braintree's first public benefactor never resided there. We 
know this comes in conflict with high authority, still authors, 
like doctors, will sometimes disagree. 

It is, however, very evident that he had begun to improve his 
farm there, to make it more valuable, as we find by the records 

]. "Whereas you have desired and obtained licence to remove yourselves 
and your families out of this jurisdiction, aud for that information hath bene 
given to the Court that your intent is only to withdraw for a season, tluit you 
may avoyde the censure of the Court in some things which may be objected 
against you, that Court doth therefore order that you may depart according to 
the licence given you, so as your families bee removed before the next Generall 
Court; but if your families bee not so removed, then you are to appear at the 
next Court, to abide the further order of the Court herein."— Mass. Rec, Vol. 
I, p. 223. 



BELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 193 

that he had engaged men for that purpose, and that they were 
at work there at the time the court granted permission to Mr. 
Coddington and his friends to leave, as in the same order of tlie 
Court liis men were ordered to depart the limits of the colony. 

" Of Mount Wollaston,^ Henry RandoU and John Johnson, 
Mr. Coddington's nien, arc to be removed before the next court." 
Tiiere may have been one or two more, as the original records 
indicate that one or two names were omitted. 

Mrs. Hutchinson was also banished from the colony. Win- 
throp says that after sentence of banishment had been pro- 
nounced by the Court against her, " she went by water to her 
farm at the Mount, where she was to take water, with IMr. 
Wheelwright's wife and family, to go to Piscataquack ; but she 
changed her mind, and went by land to Providence and so to 
the island in the Narraganset Bay, which her husband and the 
rest of that sect had purchased of the Indians and prepared 
with all speed to remove into. "Her fate was a melancholy 
one. Her husband having died in 1642, she removed from 
lihode Island into the Dutch country, and was killed by the 
Indians, Avith all her children . except one daughter, who was 
carried into captivity." By the expulsion of the Hutchinsons, 
Coddington, Wheelwright and others, Antinomianism received 
its death blow in New England. After Wheelwright's banish- 
ment, services were discontinued at the Mount. 

In 1639, the inhabitants of Mount Wollaston petitioned that 
they might have leave to establish an independent church there, 
which was reluctantly granted, the objection being that it would 
deprive the first church of Boston of the support of many in- 
fluential men. To obviate this, it was agreed that those that 
dwell at the Mount should pay sixpence per acre yearly for 
such land as was within a mile of the water, and threepence for 
that which was farther off, for the support of the Boston church. 
In one of the old books a record is made as follows : " The first 
church of Christ in Braintry was embodied 16th Sept., 1639, it 
being the Lord's Day." 

1. It must be borne in mind that Mount Wollaston at this time was a part of 
Boston, and for five or six years, or from l()34-5 to 1G40 had been under her mu- 
nicipal regulations, although called the Mount. 

26 



194 KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

The following is a copy of the original covenant as signed by 
the members of the first church of Braintree, at their first gath- 
ering, September 16th, 1639, as taken from the appendix of a 
century sermon preached by the Rev. John Hancock in the first 
church of Braintree, (now Quincy,) September 16th, 1789 : 

" We poor unwortliy creatures, who have sometime lived 
without Christ and without God in the Avorld, and so have de- 
served rather fellowship with the devil and his angels, than with 
God and his saints, being called of God out of this world to tlie 
fellowship of Christ by the Ministry of the Gospel, and our 
hearts made willing to join together in Church Fellowship, so 
by the help and strength of Christ, renounce the devil, the 
wicked world, a sinful flesh with all the remnants of Anti-Chris- 
tian pollution, wherein sometimes we have walked, and all our 
former evil ways, and do give up ourselves, fii'st to God the 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and ofl'er up our proffered subjec- 
tion to our Lord Jesus Christ as the only Priest, Proi)het and 
King of his Church, beseeching him in his rich grace and free 
mercy to accept us for his people in the blood of his Covenant, 
and we give up ourselves also one to another by tlie will of God, 
promising in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 
worketh in us both to will and to do according to his good pleas- 
ure, to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth and to walk in 
brotherly love and the duties thereof according to the will of 
the Gospel, to the edification of the body and of e.ich member 
therein, and to be guided in all things according to God's re- 
vealed will, seeking to advance tlie Glory of Jesus Christ, our 
head, both in Church and Brotherly Communion, thro' the assist- 
ance of his Holy Spirit which he hath promised to his Church, 
and we do manifest our joint consent herein this day in i)resence 
of tliis assembly, by this our present public profession and by 
giving to one another the right hand of fellowship. 

"Wm. Tompson, Pastor, Joiix Dassi^tt, 

Henry Flvnt, Teacher, AVilliam Potter, 

George Rose, Martin Saunders, 

Stephen Kinsley, Eider, Gregory Belcher." 

The original covenant of the first church has something of a 
history. This covenant of faith was published 1789, in the appen- 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 195 

dix of the Rov. Mv. Hancock's valuable century sermons of 
the first church. In 1811, Hancock's address had become so 
rare and scarce, that Mr. John Adams desired the Rev. Mr. 
Whitney, (then its pastor,) to have it re])ublished, wlio con- 
sented. But in haviiiuj it reprinted, he being a strong advocate 
of liberal theology, had this covenant left out, for the reason 
that it was too strongly imbued with the dogmas of Calvin. — 
And it is a little singular, too, that the Rev, Mr. Lunt, a candid 
and thorough historian as he was, should have omitted this relig- 
ious com]>act in his admirable history of the first church. 

"Mr. Tompson was ordained Nov. 19th, 1639, and Mr. Flint 
March 17th, 1639-40. According to the distinction observed in 
those early times in churches, ^[r. Tompson became pastor and 
Mr. Flint teacher. 

'Olr. Tompson graduated at Oxford and commenced preaching 
in the Xorth of England. From the beginning he was a zealous 
advocate of the Protestant religion. The date of his arrival in 
New England cannot Ije determined with certainty, as historians 
differ greatly ; but certain it is, that he came either in 1637 or 
1638. One of the most important incidents in the life of Mr. 
Tompson was, his being chosen one of three ministers to go on 
a mission to Virginia in 164'2, upon a request from certain indi- 
viduals in that remote colony, that competent ministers of the 
Congregational order should be sent to i)reach the gospel to 
ihein. The following extract from Hubbard's History of New 
England will explain the reasons and object of this mission : 

"In the same year, 164'i, one Mr. Bennett, a gentleman of 
Virginia, arrived at Boston, bringing letters with him from sun- 
dry well-disposed people there, to tlie minister of New England, 
bewailing their sad condition for want of the means of salvation, 
and earnestly entreating a supply of faithful ministers, whom 
u])on experience of their gifts and godliness, they might call to 
office. Upon these letters (which were openly read at Boston 
on a U'cture day) the ministers there jnct, agreed to' set a day 
apart to seek God in the thing, and agreed uj»on three, which 
might most easily be spared, viz : Mr. Phillips of Watertown, 
^Ir. Tompson of Braintree and ]Mr. Miller of Ifowley, (these 
churches having each of them two ministers,) which the General 



196 KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Court approved of, and ordered that the Governor should com- 
mand them, by his letters to the Governor and Council of Vir- 
ginia. But Mr. Pliillips not being willing to go, Mr. Knowles, 
his fellow-laborer, and Mr. Tompson were sent away, with the 
consent of their churches, and departed on their way on the 7th 
of October, 1642, to meet the vessel that should transport them, 
at Narraganset ; but Mr. Miller, because of his bodily weakness, 
did not accept the call. Both the churches were willing to dis- 
miss their ministers to that work, and the Court likewise did 
allow and further it, for the advancement of the kingdom of the 
Lord Jesus, not fearing to part Avilh such desirable persons, be- 
cause they looked at it as seed sown, that might bring in a plen- 
tiful harvest. 

" They that were sent to Virginia Avere long wind-bound at 
Rhode Island, and met Avith many other difficulties, so as they 
nuide it eleven Aveeks of a dangerous passage before they arrived 
there ; but had this advantage in the Avay, that they took a third 
minister along with them, viz : Mr. James, (formerly the pastor 
of the church at Charlestown,) from Ncav Haven. They found 
loving and liberal entertainment in the country, and Avere be- 
stowed in scA^eral places, by the care of some honest-minded 
persons, that much desired their company rather than by any 
care of the Governor. And though the difficulties and dan- 
gers they Avere continually exercised with in their Avay thither, 
put them upon some question Avhether their call Avere t)f God 
or not, yet Avere they much encouraged by the success of their 
ministry, through the blessing of God, in that place. 

" Mr. Tompson, a man of a melancholy temper and crazy 
body, Avrote Avord back to his friends that he found his liealth 
so repaired, and his spirit so enlarged, that he had not been in 
the like condition since he first left England. But he fared with 
them as it had done before Avitli the Apostles in the primitive 
times, that the people magnified them, and their hearts seemed 
to be much* inflamed Avith an earnest desire after the Gospel, 
though the civil rulers of the country did not alloAV of their 
public preaching, because they did not conform to the orders of 
the Church of England ; however, the people resorted to them, 
in private ho\ises, as much as before. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 197 

" At their return, which was the next summer, by the letters 
which they brought with them, it appears that God had greatly 
blessed their ministry for the time while they were there, wliich 
was not long ; for the rulers of the country did in a sense drive 
them out, having made an order that all such as would not con- 
form to the discipline of the English Church, should depart the 
country by such a day. 

" It appears, from what is related concerning this mission, that, 
although it did not succeed, as had been anticipated, and was 
abruptly terminated by the order from tlie authorities of the 
Virginia colony, yet it was not wholly without fruit. Many seem 
to have been favorably impressed by the preaching of Tompson 
and his associates; and the early historians of New England 
mention particularly the removal of Daniel Gookins from Vir- 
ginia to New England, as the result of the deep impression pro- 
duced by the Puritan preachers from the North. This individual 
seems to have been highly esteemed in his day. He removed 
to this part of the country in 1644, and settled in Cambridge; 
was Major General of the Massachusetts Colony, and was author 
of 'The Historical Collections of the Indians in New England.' 
Mather thus alludes, and in no bad strains, to the dangers and 
benefits that attended this mission : 

" 'SVben Eeverend Knowles and he, sailed band in band, 
To CLrist espousing the Virginian land, 
• Upon a ledge of craggy rocks near starved, 
His Bible in his bosom thrusting saved; 
The Bible, the best cordial of his heart, 
' Come tloods, come flames,' (cried he,) ' we'll never part,' 
A constellation of great converts there, 
Shone round him, and his heavenly glory were. 
Gookins was one of these; by Tompson's pains, 
Christ and New England a dear Gookins gains. 

"Mr. Tompson met with a severe bereavement in the death, 
during his absence, of his wife, who is described as 'a godly 
young woman, and a comfortable help to him, being left behind 
with a company of small children, she was taken away by death, 
and all his children scattered, but well disposed of among his 
godly friends.' 

" Mr. Tompson married for his second wife, Anne, the widow of 



198 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Symon Crosbie of Cambridge. The date of this second marringe 
of Mr. Tompson I liave not ascertained, but sujipose it to have 
been in 1646 or 1647. Tlieir only child, Anna Tompson, was 
born March 3d, 1648. 

" The next notice I have met with of Mr. Tompson is connected 
with the synod, which was convened at Cambridge in 1648, and 
Avhich framed the phitform of Church Discipline for our Congre- 
gational churches, Mr. Allen of Dedham pi-eached out of Acts 
XV, a very godly, learned and particular handhng of near all 
the doctrines and ajiplications concerning that subject, etc. 

" It fell out about the midst of his sermon, there came a snake 
into the seat where many of the Elders sate, behind the preacher. 
It came in at the door where ])eople stood thick upon the stairs. 
Divers of the Elders shifted from it, but Mr. Tompson, one of 
the Elders of Braintree, a man of much faith, trod u})on the head 
of it, and so held it with his foot and staff, with a small pair of 
graines, until it was dead. 

" This being so remarkable, and nothing falling out but by di- 
vine providence, it^is out of doubt, the Lord discovered somewhat 
of his mind in it. The serpent is the devil ; the Synod, the repre- 
sentative of the churches of Christ in New England. The devil 
had formerly and lately attempted tlieir disturbance and dissolu- 
tion ; but their faith in the seed of the woman overcame him, and 
crushed his head." This incident here related so gravely, to- 
gether with the remarks made upon it by such a man as'Win- 
throp, furnishes a singular illustration of the character of our 
fathers. 

" Eor several years before his death Mr. Tompson's happiness 
and usefidncss ajipear to have been destroyed, by a fixed melan- 
choly, probably eonstitutional, and which amounted at times to 
i]iental alienation. He left his imblic labors as a ])reacher, in 
the year 1658, about seven years before his death. The state of 
his mind, in the latter portion of liis life, doubtless incapacitated 
him for the management of his temporal affairs, as well as the 
discharge of his official duties. In the archives of the State is a 
document entitled, 'A proposal for the issue of the complaints 
presented by the beloved brethren, the Deacons of the Church of 
Braintree, in reference to our beloved sister, Mrs. Tompson, yet 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 199 

standing ineiiibor of the Clmicli of Cambridge, drawn u]i by tlic 
Elders .and some brethren of tliat Church, wlio liad a lieaiing 
thereof at Cambridge, October LJtli, IGGl.' This unlia)ti)y differ- 
ence between Mrs. Tompson and the officers of tlie Braintree 
Church seems to have continued. After the decease of her Iius- 
band, she ])resented a petition, in IGGS, to tlie General Court, in 
Avhich she complains of certain moneys being withheld, that wen' 
due to her husband, for his services, and asks for ivlicf, although 
she 'humbly ciaves, that she may not be inter])reted to accuse 
the Church of acts of any injustice or neglect in the jilace where 
she lives.' In this connection it may be mentioned that in the 
Dorchester Church Records is the following entry : 

"The -26 (1) 'Go. 

" The day aforesaid, at the motion of Mr. Mather, there was a 
contribution for Mr. Toin])son at Braintree, unto which there was 
given in money £G Os. 9d. besides notes for corn and other things 
above 30s.; and some more money was added afterwards to the 
value of 8s. 3d. 

" It is not easy to account for Mr. Tom|(Son's becoming so re- 
duced in his circumstances. Johnson, in his ' Wonder-working 
Providence,' has a ]»assage which bears uj)on the subject. 'This 
town ' (he is speaking of the town, then recently incorporated 
at Mount WoUaston, by the name of Braintree,) hath great 
store of land in tillage, and is at })resent in a very thriving con- 
dition for outward things, although some of Boston retain their 
farms from being of their town, yet do they lie within their 
bounds, and how it comes to pass I know not ; their officers have 
somewhat short allowani'e ; they are well stored with cattle and 
corn, and as a people receive, so should they give. The Rev. 
Mr. Tompson is a man abounding in zeal for the propagation of 
the gospel, and of an ardent aifcction, in so much that lie is a]»t 
to forget himself in things that concern his own good, ami yet 
from the report of the committee appointed by the General Court 
to inquire concerning the maintenance of ministers in the county 
of Suffolk, it appears that the salary allowi'd their ministi'r in 
Braintree^ was, considering the size of the place, quite as good as 

1. See Mass. Historical Collection, 3d series, Vol. I. 



200 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

in the neighboring towns. That committee, consisting of Thomas 
Savage, Eleazer Luther, John Johnson, met on the 22d of July, 
1659. 

" According to their report, Hingham, having about one 
hundred families, allowed £90 per annum. Weymouth, £100 
per annum, with sixty families ; Dorchester, £100, one hundred 
and twenty families ; Roxbury, to Mr. Eliot and Mr. Danforth 
each £60, eighty families ; Dedham, £60, one hundred and sixty- 
six families ; Medfield, £50, forty families ; Hull, £40, twenty 
families. The report likewise mentions, that the mode of raising 
the salaries in Braintree, was by public contribution, and for this 
reason, perha2:)s, the amount raised was liable to vary from time 
to time. 

" Death at length came to deliver the pastor from his outward 
straits, and to relieve his mental distress. It is gratifying to be 
assured, that before his dej^arture, the cloud that had settled up- 
on him for years, lifted, and he enjoyed a brief season of peace. 
He died December 10th, 1666, according to his grave-stone, which 
is still standing in the burying-place in this town. 

" Although this is doubtless the true date of his death, there is 
a singular diversity on this point in contemporary notices of the 
event, which serves to show how difficult it is to attain to histori- 
cal exactness, where exactness is of more moment than in the 
present instance. The Roxbury Church Records, in noticing the 
event, makes it occur the 12th of the tenth month, 1666, Ho- 
bart's manuscript journal, has the following entry, 'December 
9th, 1666, Mr. Tompson, minister at Braintree, died 9th day.' The 
Braintree register of births, deaths, &c., Mr. Adams' copy gives 
10th of the tenth month, 1666. Mr. Hancock, in a note to one of 
his century discourses, gives the date December 10th, 1668, which 
is manifestly a mistake, and probably a misprint. Whether Mr. 
Tompson's first wife, who died in his absence, Avas buried in 
Braintree, I do not know. There is no stone remaining here to 
her memory. His second wife died October 11th, 1675, and lies 
buried beside him. 

" Mr. Tompson died intestate. There is in the Suffolk Probate 
Office an inventory of his effects, which corresponds too closely 
with Mather's lines : 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. "iOl 

" Braintree was of this jewel then possest, 
Until himself he labored into rest, 
His inventory then, with John's was took ; 
A rough coat, girdle, with the sacred book." 

" Mr. Henry Flint, (or Flynt as it is found most frequently 
spelk'tl,) who was associated witli Mr. Tompson astcaelier of the 
First Church, arrived here in the year l(j;i5. 'lie was admitted 
of Boston Church, 15t]i Xovember, tliis year, (10H5) a fortnight 
after Vane.' ^ In a nianuscrijit journal of liev. Josiah Flint, son 
of the first teacher of Braintree, is found the following entry : 
' Mr. Henry Flint came to New England 2 (12) m. 1635.' I know- 
not liow to reconcile this with the date of his admission into the 
Boston Church, except by supposing that by tlie Tith month, 
(which was February,) Avas intended that which closed the year 
1634, according to the computation then in use. And I am con- 
firmed in this supposition by what is added, namely, ' was or- 
dained teacher of the Church of liraintree, 1640.' He was in fact 
onhnned, 17th of March, 1639-40. His ordination at Braintree 
may liave been postponed, to afford him liberal opportunity for 
this recantation. It is possible that his sin of charity, thougli 
repented of, may have left a taint of error, which influenced some 
of Braintree, to receive the sacrament at Boston, after the 
gathering of a church in their own town." Winthroj), Vol. 
I., pp. 196, 247, 313. 

This part of the nianusciij)t was, I su])pose, Avritten by Henry 
Flint, Esq. The year then conimenced Avitli March, so that Feb- 
ruary closed the year, instead of being, as now, the second month 
of a new year. He was admitted Freeman, twenty-fifth of May, 
1636. During the Antinomian excitement, he seems to have fa- 
vored the new views, perhaps out of deference to Mr. Cotton, 
whom he is said to have admired so much ; and if so, he followed 
the example of ]Mr. Cotton still further, by abjuring the doctrine 
of Mr. Wheelwright, Avhen he and his principal friends liad been 
obliged to leave the colony. " There is enteretl," says j\Ir. Savage, 
"so late as 13 ]May, 164(1, the submission of JMr. Henry Flynt." 
But the victory over him was well deserving of notice, as he was 

1. Wiuthrop Hi.story of New England, Savage's Ed., Vol. I., p. IGU. 

27 



202 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

a distingviislied young man, then chosen minister at Braintree.^ 
It will be perceived by the following extract from the "Wonder- 
working Providence," which is the orthordox view of the matter, 
that Mr. Flint was honored as one of the instruments for correct- 
ing the heterodoxy that had prevailed at the Mount, in the time 
of Wheelwright. " They had formerly one Mr Wheelwright to 
preach unto them (till this government could no longer contain 
them) they, many of them, in the meantime, belonging to the 
Church of Christ in Boston, but after his departure, they gath- 
ered into a church themselves ; having some enlargement of land, 
they began to be well peopled, calling to office among them, the 
reverend and godly Mr, Wm. Tompson and Mr. Henry Flynt, 
the one to the office of a Pastor, the other of a Teacher ; the peo- 
l)le. are purged, by their industry, from the sour leven of those 
sinful opinions that began to spread, and if any remain among 
them, it is very covert." From a report of a committee made 
in 1657, it appears that Mr. Flint and Mr. Tomj^son received fifty- 
five pounds as their salary.- Mr. Flint died on the twenty-seventh 
of April, 1068, having survived the pastor, IMr. Tompson, a little 
over a year and four months, and his remains lie in our burying- 
ground. A stone over them bears a lengthy inscription which 
can be found on page 116. 

It was most probably written in Mr. Plancock's time, per- 
haps by Mr. Hancock himself. He says in a note to one of 
his Century Discourses: "Mr. Flynt's monument is still to be 

1. "Where farms or villages are, as at Rumney Maivsh, (now Chelsea,) and 
Marvill-heatl, (now Marbleheail, ) there a minister or a brother of one of the Con- 
gregations of Boston for the Marsh, and of Salem for JNIarblehead, preachetli and 
exerciseth prayer every Lord's day, which is called prophesying in such a place. 
And so it was heretofore at INIonntwoollaston within Boston precincts, thongh 
since it became a church now called of Braintree, but before they of the Mount 
did, and those of the Marsh and Marblehead still come and receive the Sacra- 
ment at Boston and Salem respectively, and some of Braintree still receive at 
Boston." Lechford Plain Dealing, Vol. I., p. 41. 

2. The General Court appointed a committee to ascertain the amount of sal- 
ary paid to the clergymen of the various towns in the colony. The following- 
named persons constituted the connnittee, viz. : " Thomas Savage, Eleazer Ln- 
ther and John Johnson. They met at Braintree 27th July, 1(157, and made the 
following report in reference to this town: The deacons of Braintree informed 
us that Mr. Flint and Mr. Thompson are each of them allowed 55 pounds per 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 208 

scoii, tliou^li nuK'li gone to decay, but T hope to see tlie tomb of 
tlic ])r(»])hct rebuilt. ^ This note taken in connection Avitli tl)e 
nioiloin style of the inscription, lenils me to infer that the old in- 
scription had been effaced by time, and that this was composed 
anew or at least re-written. The age of Mr. Flint at his death, 
is not given on his tomb stone. But in the lloxbury First Church 
Records, there is entered a notice of the event in these words : 
" 27, 2m., '68, Mr. Henry Flynt, Teacher to the Churcli at Brain- 
trey, aged Gl, deceased." He was, therefore, about 32 years of 
age Avhen he was settled in Braintree, and eight or nine years 
younger than the pastor. The date of Mrs. Flint's decease, 
which is not given in full in the inscription ujion the stone, is 
thus settled by contemporary manuscripts : " Mrs. ]\[argcry Flynt 
died 10 ]\[arch, 1GS6-7, about G of the clock in the morning and 
was buried on the Tith." " 1G87, March 10th, jNfrs. Flint de- 
ceased at l^raintree, Thursday." Morton, in his memorial, makes 
resjtectful niention of Mr. Flint, as " a man of known piety, grav- 
ity, integrity and well accomplished, with other qualifications fit 
for the work of the ministry." Mr. Hancock has the remark, 
"During the time of Mr. Tom]ison's and Mr. Flynt's ministry 
there Avcre 204 adult members of this church." 

The first race of ministers in this church, those who had been 
born in England and Avho had exercised their ministry there, had 
now passed away, and their successors Avere all educated in this 
country. 

From April 27th, 1668, to Sept. 11th, 1672, the church was 
without a settled minister. There were unhappy divisions in the 
church, which seem to have occasioned great disturbances and to 
have been a subject of concern to the neighboring churches. 
From a manuscript journal kept by the llev. Josiah Flint, son of 
the teacher of this church, some light is thrown upon the history 
of the interval. It appears from this manuscript, that Mr. Flint 

annum, paid generally in such time as themselves take up and accept of from 
tlie iiiliabitanls, paid ordinarilj' yearly or within the year, the town being about 
eighty families. Mr. Tompson's family being about three persons, Mr. Flint's 
about seven or eight. Their elders generally depend upon public contribution." 
Mass. Hist. Col, Vol. I., 3d Series, p. ."JO. 

1. Hancock's Century Sermons, p. 24. 



204 • EKLIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

j^reached to this church for some time, and to<]cether with a Mr. 
Bulkley, actually received a call to settle, and that an offer was 
made, of £00 per annum to each, besides certain privileges; but 
the divisions that rent the church into parties, prevented any set- 
tlement, and Mr. Flint soon after accepted a call to become pas- 
tor of the neighboring church of Dorchester. Finally Mr. Moses 
Fiske was sent here by order of the County Court held at Bos- 
ton. Hancock in his century sermons snid, " Mr. Fiske being sent 
by the Court of Sessions for the County of Suffolk, to preach 
God's word to the Church of Braintree in their destitxite, divided 
state, I thought it not amiss to give a transcript of the order ver- 
batim, because of the rarity and success of such an extraordinary 
proceeding. ' At a county court held at Boston, by adjourn- 
ment, 23d of Nov. 1071, the court having taken into considera- 
tion tlie many means that have been used with the Church of 
Braintree, and hitherto nothing done to affect, as to the ordain- 
ing the ordinances of Christ among them, this court therefore 
orders and desires Mr. Moses Fiske, to improve his labors in 
preaching the word at Braintree until the church there agree 
and obtain supply for the work of the ministry, or this court 
take farther order. This is a true copy as attest, 

'Freegrace Bexdall, Clerk.'" 
"Mr. Fiske obeyed and went not without the advice of the 
neighboring elders, and preached his first sermon here Dec. 3d, 
1071. The next day about twenty of the brethren came to visit 
him, manifesting (in the name of the church,) their ready accept- 
ance of Avhat the honored court had done and thanking him for 
his compliance therewith ; and on Feb. 24th, following, the 
church gave him a unanimous call to the pastoral office." He was 
ordained Sept. 11th, 1072. Mr. Lunt says, that it is probable 
that Mr. Fiske preached on this occasion himself, in conformity 
with a ])ractice that prevailed at that early jieriod in New Eng- 
land. In the records of the First Church is the following vote : 
"11th, 7th mo., 1072, this Avas the day of my settlement espous- 
als to this church and congregation, being settled to the office 
of a pastor to them. The churches present by their messengers, 
were these ; three at Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester and Way- 
jnouth, six churches ; Mr. Eliot prayed and gave the charge, Mr. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 205 

Oxenbridgo and tlie deacons joined in the laying on of hands, 
and Mr. Thatcher, gave tlie right liancl of fellowshiii. Dej). 
Gov. Leveret, Mr. Danforth, ]\rr. Tinge and Mr. Stougliton, Avere 
present." AVitli Mr. Fiske's adniinistiation, the eliureh records 
are su))posed to commence. Mr. Fiskc was the son of the Rev. 
John Fiske, who came from England before 1G87, was a ])liysician 
and minister, and was the first minister of Wcnliam and Cluslms- 
ford in wliich latter place he died, 1077. Mr. Moses Fiske's min- 
istry in this town was a long one, extending over thirty-six years. 
He died here, Aug. 10th, 1708, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. 
lie left a large family. His first wife was Mrs. Sarah Symmes, 
daughter of 'Mv. "William Symmes of Charlestowii, whom he mar- 
ried on the 9th of the 7th mo., 1671, by wliom he liad fourteen 
children. Mrs. Fiske died Dec. 2d, 1G92 ; he then married Mrs. 
Anna (Juinsey, daughter of Rev. Thomas Shepard. of Cliarles- 
town. In the Braintree records the marriage is recorded as fol- 
lows, "Rev. Moses Fiske and Mrs. Anna Quinsey were married 
7th Jan'y, 17U0, by Samuel Sewall, Esq." She died July 24th, 
1708, less than three weeks before his own decease. By his sec- 
ond wife he had two children. Mr. Fiske preached tlie sermon 
before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, on the 
day of their annual election, June 4th, 1()1)4, and the original ser- 
mon in his handwriting is in the archives of the j\[ass. Historical 
Society. 

In a diary kept by Mr. John Marshall,^ wlio was a mason by 
trade, in speaking of Mr. Fiske, says, " This excellent person was 
ordained pastor of the church in Braintrec, in September, 1672, in 
whicli sacred employment lie continued till his dying day, a dili- 
gent, faithful laborer in the harvest of Jesus Christ ; studious in 
tlie Holy Scriptures, having an extraordinary gift in prayer above 

1. Marshall's maiiuscriiit diary has been by Mr. Lunt and others called Fair- 
licld's diary, which is evidently a mistake, as at the time this diary was kept 
there was no person by the name of Fairfield to be found in tlie town, but a 
l>erson by the name of John Marshall, a mason and carpenter by trade, is fre- 
i|uently to be found. The births and deaths that occurred in hi.s family, as 
rororded in his diary, exactly ajjrce with tho.se recorded on the town records, 
whii.'h to my mind is proof sutticient that this diary was the production of Mr. 
.IdIui Marshall, and is now so inscribed on the C(jver of the book, alth()uj;h it 
was formerly attributed to Mr. Fairiield as its author. 



^ 



206 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

many good men, and in preaching equal to the most, inferior to 
few ; zealously diligent for God, and the good of men ; one Avho 
thought no labor, cost or suffering, too dear a price for the good 
of his people. His public preaching was attended with convinc- 
ing light and clearness, and poAverful, affectionate application, 
and his private oversight was performed with humility and un- 
wearied diligence. He lived till he was near sixty-five years of 
age, beloved and honored of the most that knew him. On the 
18th day of July, being the Lord's day, he preached all day in 
public, but was not well. The distemper continued and proved 
a malignant fever, so that little hopes of recovery appearing, his 
church assembled together, and earnestly besought the great 
Shepherd of the sheep, that they might not be deprived of him. 
But heaven had otherwise determined, for on Tuesday, August 
10th, he died about one in the afternoon, and was, with suitable 
solemnity and great lamentation, interred in Braintree, in his own 
tomb, the l'2th day." 

During the last part of Mr. Fiske's ministry, a controversy 
arose between the North and South Precincts of the town. 
This contention grew out of the fact, that the south part of the 
tOAvn considered that they had increased to a sufficient number 
to organize a new church, and that it Avas very inconvenient for 
those who resided there, to come so far to meeting. This con- 
tention Avas carried to such a height, that it Avas found neces- 
sary to call a council of elders and messengers. Marshall, in his 
diary, makes the folloAving entry : 

" 1704-5, Jan. In this month past Ave had two church 
meetings in Braintree, Avhich occasioned much debate, and some 
misapprehension, about church discipline ; by reason Avhereof Ave 
had much sinful discourse in this toAvn ; for, as the Avise man 
saitl), in the multitude of words there Avants not sin, Avhich Avords 
and debates caused such differences as that it Avas the beginning 
of the separation of the town and church, and the erecting a 
meeting-house and forming a congregation at Monatoquod. 
Nine of the church withdrew from the Lord's table, and in many 
things acted so disorderly, as that it occasioned a council of the 
elders and messengers of nine churches, avIio met in the old meet- 
ing-house in Braintree, May 7th, 1707. Mr. Nehemiah Hobart, 



RBLIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 207 

of Newtown, was choscMi moderator. Tlie disorders anionic us 
call for tears and lamentations rather than to be remembered.'" 

Not rceeiving satisfaction from this body, they went still fur- 
ther, and sent in petitions to the General Court. Tiie following 
are the petitions of the North and South Precincts, the contents 
of which will explain this controversy to a great degree.^ The in- 
hal)itants of the North Precinct were very loath to permit those 
of the South to secede, as it would (lei)rive them of a ])roj»or- 
tional part of the salary of Mr. Fiske, the minister. True it 
is, that those of the South Precinct withdrew and built them- 
selves a separate church in 1706. 

The following, explanation of the construction of the church at 

1. "To his excellency the Governor, and to the Honorable Couiicill, and the 
Kepreseiitatives of the Province in General Court assembled : 

" Tlie humble address and petition of the liretheren of the South Church in 
15raiiitree, on the behalf of themselves and the rest of the Neighbors, Submis- 
sively sheweth, viz: For as much as a considerable Council! of nine Cliurchos 
at their several sessions about our ecclesiastical affairs, have in their judicious 
results, declared their satisfaction in our weiifhty reasons, offered for counte- 
nancing an assembly for religious worship in the southern j)art of IJraintree. 
Hut have directed us to apply ourselves to tlie civil Authorities, that we uuiy 
from thence be put into best method for supi)orting the ministers that after an 
orderly manner might be settled among us. 

" Moreover, seeing by the Last Results of the Honored Council! wo had granted 
us such a legally and orderly dismission from the Nortli Ciiurcli in Braintrec, 
as being at a gospel liberty to embody ourselves into a distinct Church state, and 
in the public gatliering of our Churcli, according to tlie order of the Gospel. We 
luive been resjiectively favored witli the presence, assistance, and complacence 
of the reverend and Honored Elders and Delegates of five neigliboring Churches 
who (Neemine Contradicent) were pleased, most fairly, openly and solemnly, to 
ordain our Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hugh Adams, in by and unto him also, they 
were pleased to give our Church, the Right Hand of Fellowship. 

" Being therefore well assured of your fatherly compassion to us, aiul Chris- 
tian tenderness for the interest of religion amoungst us, we humbly petition that 
we may obtain the favor which that venerable Council! has invited us to ask 
and to liope for. 

" Wlierefor with a submissive sense of our necessary dependence on tliecliris- 
tian government, and majestracy and Civil Power, wliich tlie most higli (iod, tlie 
Supreme majesty of Heaven and Eartli has vouchsafed to our land. We do now 
as one of the regularly constituted (though the meanest of the) Churches of tlio 
Lord Jesus Christ in New England, humbly adventure so far to presume on tlie 
placable lenity and candor of your Jlonours, as to seek for shelter under the wing 
of your paternal care and conduct. And we do earnestly iutreat and begg, that 
you wiU please to order our Precinct for us and settle according to the providuu- 



208 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

the south end of the town, is to be found in the ^Massachusetts 
Archives : 

" The inhabitants of the soutli part of the Town of Braintree 
having lately built a meeting-house for the Public Worship of 
God in that part of the Town, have this to say for themselves 
in answer to what may be objected to them. 

" That although their proceedings herein through inadver- 
tency have not been so regular as they ought to have been, on 
the account of which they crave favour, humbly acknowledging 
whatsoever may be justly charged as an irregularity upon them, 

tially appointed line of division already laid out and run between and limiting 
the two military companies in Braintree. There being in the northern part of 
the town, Colonel Edmund Quincy's company containing seventy-two families, 
and in the southern part of the town, Capt John Mill's company, consisting of 
families seventy and one, both enumerated by exact computation, each of which 
vicinities distinctly and separately, both as to quantity and quality, with the 
Providential smiles of Heaven, and the authoritative determination of your 
Honours, may be able vvith a sufficiency, comfortably to support each pastor in 
his proper Church affairs and ministry. All this for preheminence we must 
own, that in all our town rates, the North End "congregation are about a fifth 
part higher and more able in raterable and improverable estates than our South 
congregation. 

" And to demonstrate the legality, equity and rationality of this our reiiuest for 
the above said Precinct, we have here from under the hand of our town clerk a 
copy of a town vote passed fairly, foi- our being released from our North End 
bretheren and neighbors, to be a different congregation by ourselves, and in 
granting this our petition ever hereafter, to pray for the presence of Christ 
whose name is Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, with the infinite wisdom 
and Grace to influence, preserve and moderate-in his Majesties Honorable As- 
sembly of the Rulers'of his New England Israel, you will indispensably oblige. 
From Naphtali, if your Honours please so to name our neighborhood, from Gen- 
esis, 30th chapter, 8th verse, and Matthew, 4th chapter, 15 & IG verses. 

South Braintree, October 28th, 1707. 
" Your Honours most humble, obedient, and grateful, though most unworthy 
servants. 

Samuel White, Sen., Samuel Bass, William Nightingale, 

Samuel Niles, Jr., Samuel Payne, Thomas Wells, 

Caleb Hobart, Ebenezer Thayer, Benjamin Niles, 

Nehemiah Hayden, Ebenezer Spear, John Niles, Jr. 

Joseph Allen, Samuel Littlefield, Mass. Arch., Vol. IT. 

"Whereas before this most Honorable Court the last W^ednesday, our opposers 
in their objections against our petition, were pleased to nnsrepreseut several 
things which we think and know in our conscience, are not right, we do now 
humbly crave liberty to answer thereunto. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIKS. 209 

with all llioy have tliorcin done amiss, yet they hope that the fol-6 
lowing considerations, may he of weiglit, sufficiently to demon- 
strate that their ])roceedings have not been altogether irregular, 
nor to be condemned as at first. 

" The old meeting-house in the said town being built many 
years ago, when the town was small, was accommodated for both 
situations and measures, to the circumstances of the town in that 
day, and is altogether inconvenient for the town, i. e., the whole 
town in its present circumstances ; and as it is now situated in 
two distinct parts, considerably distant from the other, and not 
large enough to contain with comfort above two-thirds of the in- 
habitants. 

" The aforesaid inhabitants of the south end of the town find- 

" 1st. It beiii}j insinuated about the vote passed for our release from the North 
congregation, that their being such an even division between the two companies 
three or four from the North joining with the South, miglit make a majority of 
voters. And that which Colonel Quiusey said, that several of them withdrew 
and entered their dissent. 

" We must answer thereunto, the whole truth of the matter, that when the 
town meeting was generally convened the last November, we proposed to the 
North End that they would be pleased to vote bj^ themselves, distinctly from 
us, whether we should be released, &c. 

" Colonel Quinsey then rei)lyed in their behalf, that as a part of the towuonlj', 
they could not legally pass any vote, but that it must be the whole town to- 
gether. Accordingly when it was thus fairly put to vote, it passed so generally 
throughout the whole assembly of our town inhabitants, as that we could hardly 
discern any of those hands that were not then held up, whereby it was and is 
very evident to us, that we had the major part by far, of the North congrega- 
tion, as it may appear by its being afterwards, presently put to the negative vote 
and there were but three or four hands held up at the most, and we can prove 
that neither Colonel Quinsey nor any others of them did, at that town meeting, 
either withdraw or enter any dissent. 

" 2d. Whereas the Kev. Mr. Fisk was pleased then to desire this Honorable 
Court to examine into the legality of our Cimrch dismission, granted us in Bos- 
ton by general council of Churches, &c. 

"We answer that the Churches had as much warning of it as possible, 'and for 
any to question the validity of any act of an ecclesiastical council, l)ecau.se there 
appears not the majority of Ministers, who themselves sit only with the brethe- 
rcu in such a council as delegates, but equally concerned, seems to argue for 
Prelacy too Papisticall for New England Churches. 

" 3d. \Vhat Mr. liaxter was plea.sed to object, that we are so poor as to be just 
able to maintain our own minister, we own it to be true, and that the North End 
congregation are as well able proportionably to jiay the ninety i)ounils to their 
minister, as we to pay seventy to our minister, may bo easily made to appear. 

28 



210 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

ing it very irksome, (especially in the winter,) to come so far as 
most of them come to meeting, and through such bad ways, 
(whereby the Lord's day, which is a day of rest, was to them a day 
of labour, rather,) and knowing that tlie inhabitants of their part 
of the town, for numbers did almost, (if not altogether,) equalize 
the other part, who did of themselves when these were few, if 
any inhabitant in the south part, maintain two worthy ministers 
at once to their satisfaction, have made their application to the 
town at sundry times for near a dozen years at their general town 
meeting, that they would consent to have a larger meeting-house 
built for the whole, which might contain all the inhabitants, and 
might be something nearer to them, the other being now at the 

Capt. John Mills was Moderator on ye day of town meeting above said, and can 
if there be occasion, give a more full account of the work of that day. 

Joseph Adams, Nehemiah Hayden, Samuel Payne, 

Samuel French. 

" To his Excellency and to the Honorable Councill and the Representatives of 
the Province in General Court assembled: 

" The humble address of several of ye bretheren of ye North Church, Brain- 
tree, and other inhabitants in behalf of themselves, and many other of their 
neighbors most humbly sheweth, viz: 

" That whereas there has been an address preferred to the Honorable Assembly 
by divers inhabitants of ye South End of Braintree, containing in it principally 
their request for a distinct Precinct, to be ordered and settled by your Honours, 
and that, according to the providentially appointed line of division already laid 
out and run between and limiting ye two military companies in Braintree, which 
desire of theirs, they ask and hope for, yet seems in complyance with ye direc- 
tions of ye Honored Councill of Churches, and in pursuance, as they say of a 
legal and orderly dismission from ye North Church in Braintree, and so of an 
orderly settlement of a minister among them. Which how far that dismission 
and their settlement upon it, has been according to rule and order respecting 
matters of such a nature, and how far to be approved of, is most humbly sub- 
mitted to your Honours, great wisdom and judgement. 

" But that we may not molest and trouble this great and general as.seinbly, with 
too tedious a narrative of the many steps of precipitancy and disorder that have 
been from first to last taken in this matter, and presuming that your Honours 
are already too senceable of it to be in any degree imposed upon, we your hum- 
ble petitioners shall take leave to answer only those two things petitioned for by 
our South End neighbors, which we presume are one of them expressed and ye 
other intended. 

" The thing expressed, is their desire of a Precinct, to be settled according to ye 
formentioned line of division, which if it should ]ilease this Honorable Court, too 
unreasonable a weakuiug ye old and standing part of ye town, for as much as ye 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. lill 

Other 011(1 of the town ; but the otlier eiitl of the town have wholly 
refused to gratify them in tliis their reasonable desire, and this 
notwithstanding there was a clear vote that there should be a new 
house builtTso long ago as the year 1695, which now stands up- 
on record. And they did all to hinder the prosecution of the 
said vote, without our knowledge at a private meeting for that 
end, at oM Col. Quinsey's, did agree amoung themselves to shin- 
gle the old house. Pretending to be at the Avhole charge them- 
selves, and some jiersons going about to see what people would 
subscribe thereto, which notwithstanding sevcrall pounds Avere 
afterward gathered by a rate ujjon the whole town. 

far greater part of our land, for future settlement, is on ye South side of ye afore- 
said pretended line. 

" The thing »)^e?!f?ef/ and implied, is their earnest desire to be released and 
discharged from their own obligation and engagement for the support of ye 
Kev. Mr. ]SIoses Fisk, which by a fair and legal vote of the town they are unde- 
niably under. 

" The legality and equity of that their discharge they have insinuated (as this 
Honorable Court has already wisely observed) to be demonstrable by a vote of 
the town (as they say) wherein it was agreed, that the southern part of Hrain- 
tree be a separate congregation by themselves. As to this vote your luuuble pe- 
titioners have only this to answer, that the town was not notified of any such 
assembly. 

" There needing, we conceive, no further answer to be made, (your Honours 
poor supplycants not doubting of your wise and judicious proceedings, in mat- 
ters of such consequence) beg leave earnestly to pray, that it should seem meet 
to your Honours to divide our town into two distinct Precincts for the future, 
that it may be ordered without weakening the north part of ye town, and that 
our South End neighbors and bretheren may not be released from bearing their 
usual part of that charge, which they were forward in ye day of it to vote for 
and agree to. 

" In granting this our himible request, ever hereafter to pray for ye conduct 
and guidance of Heaven to influence and direct this Honorable as-sembly of the 
fathers of our land, you will endlessly oblige your humble and most dutiful and 
obedient though undeserving servants, 

John IJeales, John Marshall, James Brackett, 

Joseph Crosby, John Newcom, Jr., IJenjamiu Savill, 

Nathaniel Spcare, Joseph IJrackett, Joseph I'armentor, 

Samuel Belcher, Peter Newcuni, Gregory Belcher, 

Simon Brient, John Brackett, Samuel Baxter. 

\Vm. Savill, P^dmund Quinsey, 

• 

" We whose names are hereto subscribed, being members of the Church in 
Braintree and inhabiting tho Northern part of the town, who attend likewise 



212 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

"They yet at sundry times have acquainted the town wdth 
their grievances, asking a gratification of their desire, and have 
offered that if tliey wouhl build altogether they avou^ consent to 
have the timber gott out and raised, and when ready to raise, it 
should be left to a committee of indifferent men not otherwise 
concerned in the matter to appoint the place where it ^should set 
up, and would consent without objections let it be where they 
pleased, which being still denyed gave them sufficient reason to 
think of building themselves. 

most duly on the public worship of Gofl in the old meetinghouse, in hearty love 
and zeal to the interest of religion at the South end of the town, and to our be- 
loved fellow-members and bretheren inhabiting there, do hereby declare our full 
consent and willingness, that our said bretheren should have a dismission from 
our Church in order unto their embodying themselves into a Church State, in the 
south congregation, in testimony whereof, we hereto sett our hand on this third 
day of May, anno, 1707. 

" We whose names are here unto subscribed, being of the North part of Brain- 
tree, do hereby signify that we have consented, and still do consent that the peo- 
ple of the South end of our town, should be a congregation by themselves. 

Braintree, Nov. 19th, 1707. 

Joseph Adams, Eleazer Benjamin Neale, 

John Baxter, Sen., Peter Adams, Samuel Savill, 

Clemant Cock, Nathaniel "Wales, John Bass, Jr., 

Nathaniel Owen, John Bass, John AVebb, 

Joseph Haydon, Thomas Lamb, Samuel Bass, 

John March, Joseph Beall, John Penniman,^ 

Samuel Tompson, Samuel Speare, Theophilus Curtis, 

William Rawson, Joseph Bass, Samuel Howard. 

Mass. Arch., Vol. IT., p. 240. 

"To his Excellency the Governor and to the Honorable Councill and the Rep- 
resentatives of this Province in General Court as.sembled: 

" The humble acknowledgement of the bretheren of the South Church in 
Braintree, sheweth. 

" Being informed that your Excellency and the Honorable Councillers and 
Representatives in this most Honorable Court assembled, have resented it, as our 
precipitancy, without our previous complaint, to the General Court, of our 
aggrievances to be considered and redressed and without our asking your 
advice, direction, or permission for us to adventure to erect and build a new 
Meeting House, to form ourselves into a public assembly for Religious Worship, 
and to proceed unto the calling and settling a minister amongst us. The first 
aspect of all, whicli»may seem to be a contempt of Authority and an indignity 
to our Rulers as a factious or rebelliou.5 design, which construction, to be put 
upon our hasty proceedings, we from the sincerity of our hearts most utterly 
disclaim and detest. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 213 

" Whereon tlicy did the winter jcist, talk very hotly of build- 
ing a meeting-house by themselves, as they had several times be- 
fore discouraged, and come to something of resolution therein 
but were squib'd and floured by several of the other end of the 
town, that were the chief antagonists in the case, especially after 
they had gotten some of their timber, which notwithstanding 
they went on to build, as they had concluded ; now after they 
had considerable progress, some of those that were most against 
them, fearing what it would come to, began to stir, and would 
have them desist from their work, and they would noM' join with 
them to build together, but the others thought they had little rea- 
son to regard them, then seeing that they had all along been so 
obstinate, thinking the south end were not able to build alone, 
and that they had thereby an advantage to hold them to their 
humors as they pleased. 

" Their meeting-house being so far finished, as that they might 
comfortably meet in, that they might keep peace with their 

" Nevertheless we must .ami ilo freely acknowledjre our rashness and error, too 
apparently an occasion thereof, and wherein we liave thereby transgressed the 
Holy Law of God, or the wholesome and good law and customs of the land, we 
do earnestly and penitently crave pardon of God in and through our Lord Jesus 
Christ and of this most Honorable Assembly of our Rulers, desiring humbly to 
submit to your pious, paternal chidings for our so blamable haste in our proceed- 
ings and with shame to accept the testimony your Honours may please to bear 
against us, humbly hoping that no christian people in New England will be so 
impudent as to take pattern by us in anything wlierein we have so much erred 
in our obedience to the civil authority over us. 

" Notwithstanding which, seeing this matt Honorable Assembly, having been 
pleased to manifest such a christian tenderness and fatherly indulgence of us, 
as with your benignant goodness to overcome the evil of our so unlicensed pro- 
ceedings, it being according to the divine Oracles, the glory of your Honorable 
Court, has shined forth in the admission of our poor petition, to such an audience 
and concurrence in both of these Honorable Houses, as for us and our opposers, 
to be favored, this day, with an opportunity to speak to this petition before this 
Honorable Assembly ami heartily accept with all thankfulness, who are your 
Honours most unworthy though greatly obliging servants. 

Braintree, Not. lilth, 1707. 
Joseph Allen, Neheniiah Harden, 

Samuel Payne, Samuel French. 

In the names of, and behalf of the rest. 
"The humble confession. Acknowledgement of the Bretheren of the South 
Church iu Braintree." Mass. Arch., Vol. II., p. '247. 



214 KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Brethercn, Thoy.have nt a town meeting lawfully convened the 
25th of this instant, Novembei-, made such j^roposals as these 
which, (n word illegible,) by the moderator, after there was a 
major vote that they should be a congregation by themselves, 
viz : first, whetlier the other end of the town would pay Mr. Fi»k 
to his satisfaction, the south end being at the whole cost of their 
own meeting-house and maintaining a minister amoung them- 
selves, and quitting their right in the old house ; this denied. A 
second proposal was made, whether they of the north end would 
pay Mr. Fisk 80 pounds per annum, and the other doing as afore- 
said and paying ten pounds per annum to Mr. Fisk ; this denied. 
They made a third proposal, viz: whether if they would pay Mr. 
Fisk 90 pounds per annum, the south end doing as aforesaid and 
paying 20 pounds per annum to Mr. Fisk, which yet was denied.^ 
And now notwithstanding all the clamor that has been made, 
and irregularity charged upon them, they hope that no judi- 
cious unbyassed person will condemn them, yea, they think they 
may say, let their enemies themselves, guided by their own con- 
science, be judges, for it may be proved easily that both Mi*. Fisk 
with several others of their antagonists have at sundry times ac- 
knowledged, (and dare not deny,) that tlie lower part of the town 
have been and are more to blame in the matter than the south 
end. Brain try, Xov. 25th, 1706. 

Samuel Payne, Nehemiaii Haydex, Samuel French." 

Mass. Arch., Vol. II., pp. 248, 249. 

1. Not being able to settle Mr. Msk's salary amicably among themselves, 
the question was referred to the General Court, who after due consideration, 
passed an Act regulating the matter as follows: 

" In council, November 2'2d, 1707. In the Case of Braintry, Heard yesterday, 
and voted, 

" That the Agreoment of the Town of Braintry for the support of Mr. Fisk, 
During the Exercise of his ministry there is good and valid, and that the whole 
Town is obliged annualy to rayso the same as formerly. The Hearers of the 
new congregation forthwith take care by subscription to rayse a maintenance, 
for the minister there and present the same to the next session of the Court, who 
may then proceed to assign the Precinct for their Auditory, having always re- 
gard to the Ancient Settlement of the Town, that they may not be left uncapa- 
blo to support the ministry among them. 

" Sent down for concurrence, in the House of Representatives, Nov. 25, 1707. 
Reftd, Tas'd in concurrence." Mass. Arch., Vol.. II, p. li5U. 



RELIGIOUS vSOCIETIES. 215 

3Ir. Hugh Adams was ordained as their jtastor, Sci)teinbcr 
10th, 1707. 

" Tlie excitement that had <frt>\vn out of this division of the 
town gratlually subsidod, a reconciliation was effected soon aftei" 
the settlement of .Mr. Marsh in the North Precinct, and the liar- 
niony of the two parts of the town was completed, by Mr. 
Adams officiating in tlie north meeting-honse, which lie did, 
March 19, 1709-10. 

"The establisliment of Mr. Fisk's salary was a source of con- 
siderable trouble, as well as questionable management. There 
was more legislation in regard to Mr. Fisk's ministration than 
any other minister settled over the first i^arish. He was sent to 
the society by order of the General Court, to be their pastor -be- 
cause they could not agi-ee among themselves to have a perma- 
nent clergyman settled over them, and legislation was required to 
establish his salary. The following tiepositions sent to the Gen- 
eral Court will illustrate the nu'thod adopted by his friends in 
town to get the ninety pounds voted by them as his yearly 
stipend : 

" Benjamin Neal, of full age, testifieth and saith that he being 
in the house of Col. Edmund Quinsey a few days befoi-e the vote 
l)ast in the town meeting for Mr. Fisk having ninety pounds per 
annum, said Col. Quinsey would have persuaded me to take one 
part of the town to endeavor to inlluence and i)ersuade them to 
])ass such a vote, and urge as an argument that we sliould oblige 
the Churchmen among us to pjjy their proportion of it, or words 
to that effect, and further saith not. BEN.rAMix Neal." 

" Samuel French of full age, testifieth and saith that being in 
the house of Capt. John Mills about a fortnight or three weeks 
before the town vote jjassed for the ninety pounds. Col. Quinsey 
calling me forth and said, you know what has fell out in the town, 
the churchmen now are seeming to get a foot in the town, if you 
will join with us in a vote, we'll suppress tlie churchmen ; I have 
got sixteen already. I answered, I was not willing to this mat- 
ter; he replied, you* may be afraid that this will hinder you 
being a distinct congregation at the south end ; but this will do 
you no harm, or be any hinderance to you ; I replied that I 



216 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

ATOuld consent to no vote in that matter, but from year to year 
and further saith not. Samuel French." 

" Xehemiah Harden of full age, testifieth and saith that Col. 
Quinsey came to me some time before the £90 vote passed and 
persuaded me to consent to it, saying that^thereby Ave should 
bind the churchmen to pay to Mr. Fisk, and by this persuasion I 
consented to it, further saith not, or words to that effect. 

Mass. Archives, Vol. II., p. 242. Xehemiah Hatden." 

" The inhabitants of Braintree lawfully assembled August ye 7, 
1704. Then voted by the major part of the freeholders,^ and 
other inhabitants of said town, that the Rev. Mr. Moses Fisk 
have a salary of ninety pounds in or as money, (he finding him- 
self with wood,) to be annually well and truly paid to him, ye 
Mr. Moses Fisk, or his assigns for sujDport and maintenance dur- 
ing his performing ye work of the ministry in the town, from 
the first of March, one thousand seven hundred and four." Mass. 
Archives. 

Mr. Joseph Marsh succeeded Mr. Fisk ; he was ordained May 
18th, 1709. The records of the Cambridge Church under the 
date of Xov. 28th, 1703, contain the following entry, " Joseph 
Marsh, student," this is the first mention of him that can be 
found. He graduated at Harvard College in 1705. 

On the records of the General Cgurt, under date of May 26th, 
1708, it is stated that upon complaint being made that the town 
of Tiverton, (then belonging to Massachusetts,) did not comply 
Avith tlie law and provide themselves with a minister ; the order 
directs that Mr. Joseph Marsh be treated with and obtained, if it 

1. "A man miglit be a freeholder and not a freeman, and rece versa. He 
misht be a voter in town affairs, and yet neither be a freeholder nor a freeman. 
A freeman was one who had taken the freeman's oath, and which alone entitles 
him to vote in the nomination of magistrates, choice of deputies, alias, town 
representatives. A freeholder was one who either by grant, purchase, or inheri- 
tance, was entitled to a share in all the common undivided lands. When any 
town officers were to be chosen or money raised by way of rate, all the inhabi- 
tants could vote. Thus we sometimes find the expression, At a meeting of the 
freemen, sometimes, a meeting of the freeholders, or a meetiugof the freeholders 
and~proprietors, or a meeting would be called of the freeholders and the inhabi- 
tants, or a general town meeting. The expressions in the call for the meeting, 
would always indicate the nature and object of the business to be transacted." 



BELI6I0US SOCIETIES. 217 

may be, and sent to said town. There is also a petition from Mr. 
Marsh, dated Feb. 7th, 1709, which says that he preaclied ten 
Sabbaths in Tiverton, and that having been called to Braintree, 
had obtained a substitute for his former place. 

The North Precinct records contain the following : "Feb, 14th, 
1708-0, Then voted by the freeholders and other inhabitants of 
the North End Precinct, regularly assembled, to raise the sum of 
£70 j»cr annum, to be given to the Rev. Mr. Joseph Marsh, upon 
his settlement with us in the work of the ministry, during the 
time of his performance of that service, beginning the first day 
of March next. Then it was also voted, to give to the said 
]Mr. Joseph Marsh £100, upon his settleriient with us, and that to 
be final for said settlement." 

Mr. Marsh continued to preach here until his death, which 
occurred March 8th, 1725-6, in the 41st year of his age. Mr. 
Hancock, in his century sermons says he was buried in the same 
tomb with Mr. Fisk. "The number of members added to the 
church under his ministry, including himself is 102. Baptisms 
288. In the vacancy between his death and the settlement of 
his successor, there were eight baptisms. 

Mr. Marsh, June 30th, 1709, married Anne Fisk, daughter of 
his predecessor, who survived him many years. 

Mr. Joseph Marsh, son of the pastor, kept for many years a 
private classical school in this town. 

Mr. John Hancock followed Mr. Marsh as minister of the First 
Church, and was ordained Nov. 2d, 172G. His father was for 
many years minister in Lexington. John Hancock's name 
appears on the records of the C-ambridge First Church under 
(late of Dec. 21st, 1718, as a student admitted to full communion. 
He graduated at Harvard College in 1719. The North l*recinct 
records contain the following : "June 29th, 1720. At a meeting 
this day, a unanimous call was given to Mr. Hancock to settle in 
the work of the ministry. A yearly salary was at the same time 
voted, of £110, in good and lawful bills of public credit on this 
province, for his sujiport ; and a settlement of £200, in good 
and lawful bills of jjublic credit, was also voted." An account 
of his ordination in liis own handwriting is contained in the 
church records, and is as follows : " On Wednesday, Nov. 2d, 

29 



218 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

1726, Mr, John Hancock was ordained the pastor of the Church 
of Christ, in the North Precinct of Braintree, by the solemn 
imposition of the hands of the jireshytery. Tlie churches sent 
unto, and desired to be present at the solemnity, were tlie 
churches of Cambridge, Lexington, Dorchester First Church, 
Milton, Braintree South Church, Weymouth P^'irst Church, and 
Hingham First Church. The Rev. Mr. John Danforth made the 
first prayer. My honored father, the Rev. Mr. Hancock of Lex- 
ington, preached the sermon from Luke xxiv : 49. The Rev. 
Mr. Thacher gave the charge, and the Rev. Mr. Danforth the 
right hand of fellowship. The Rev. Mr. Niles and Mr. Ap]>leton 
laying on hands. His lelter of dismission from the Church of 
Cambridge was read at the same time by the Rev. Mr. Hancock. 
The auditory was very numerous."^ 

Mr. Hancock preached here until his death, which occurred on 
the 7th of May, 1744, in the forty-second year of his age. He is 
buried in the same tomb with Mr. Fisk and Mr. Marsh. He 
married the widow of Mr. Samuel Thaxter of Hingham. Her 
maiden name was Mar}^ Hawke. By her he had three children, 
Avhose baptisms are thus recorded by his own hand : " Mary Han- 
cock, my first-born, April 13th, 1735 ; John Hancock, my son, 
Jan. IGth, 1736-7; Ebenezer Hancock, my son, Nov. 22d, 174L 
Mary was born April 8th, 1735 ; John, Jan. 12th, 1736-7 ; 



1. We have not been able to find the expense of Mr. Hancock's ordination, 
but it must liave been qiiit« an onerous charge on the parish, if the cost to them 
was as much as it was to the church at Woburn, ou the iiistaUatiou of tlie Rev'. 
Mr. Jackson in 1729, over their church. Ordinations at this jjeriod were a 
severe charge upon the not over-wealthy societies of the province. There can 
be no doubt, but what this ceremony at Woburu was a highly spiritual one as 
the following items would indicate:— 



" To 243 Dinners, at two and sixpence a dinner, - - - 

Supper and Breakfast for one hundred and seventy-eight, - 
Keeping thirty-two horses four days, ... 

() Barrels and one-half of Cyder, - - - . 

28 Gallons of Wine, ------ 

2 (Jallons of Brandy and four of Rum, - . . 

Loaf Sugar, Ijime Juice, and Pipes, . . . 



£ s. 


D. 


'A 2 


c. 


S IS 





r, 





■1 11 





il 10 





1 16 





1 12 






83 9 6" 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 219 

Ebcnozor, Nov. 15tli, 1741." The above births are taken from 
tlie Braintree Church liecords, Book I. 

Tlie completion of tlie first century from the gatherint; of the 
cliurch occurred also during 3Ir. Hancock's ministry. In the 
church records is the following in his handwriting: "The 
Church of Christ in ]>raintree, was embodied Sept. 17th, 1(389. 
X. ]). On Sept, 10th, 1039, being Lord's day, the First Church 
in Braintree, both males and females, solemnly renewed the 
covenant of their fathers, immediately before the ])articipation 
of the Lord's Supper. The text ]n-cach('d u))on at the solemnity 
was Lsaiah lxiii : 7. 

The two sermons deliverc(l on that occasion were pid)lished 
the same year, and a second edition in ISII. 

The whole number of baptisms during Mr. Hancock's ministry 
was 355. Mr. Lunt says, " Several individuals of high and 
deserved celebrity have been nurtured in the bosom of our 
church. John Hancock, as has been said, was baptized here by 
his father. John Adams, the second President of the United 
States, was son of a deacon of the church, was baptized by Mr. 
Hancock, Oct. 20th, 1784, became Jan. 3d, 1773, a member of 
the church, and was to the close of his life, a devout and con- 
stant worshipper in the })lacc where his fathers had worshipped 
before him. The (Juinseys, from the earliest time, have lent 
their influence to suj)i»oi-t, and their virtues to adorn, the institu- 
tions of religion here, as well as the institutions of government 
and learning on a wider theatre. Judge Edmund Quinsey, who 
died abroad in the service of his country, is affectionately men- 
tioned in a sermon preached by Mr. Hancock, after the intelli- 
gence was received of his death. John Quinsey was for forty 
years representative of this town in the General Court, and for 
many yi-ars in succession, Speaker of the House of ]ve])resenta- 
tives. His name, which aj^jtears in the Town and J'recinct 
]|ec()rds in coiuiection with all |)ublic meetings, was given to 
this North Precinct of Braintree, when in 1792, it was set off 
and incorporated as a distinct town." 

^Ir. Lunt in sj)eaking of iNIr. Hancock says, lie "was singularly 
favored in some of the circumstances of his life and ministry. 
He transmitted to his son a name, which has been rendered by 



220 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

that son's conspicuous position and acknoAvledged virtues, illustri- 
ous in the eyes of the world, and which must ever be repeated 
in connection with the history of freedom in this Western Con- 
tinent. And with the Avater of christian baptism, he gave the 
name of John to anotlier individual, who stood before kings and 
princes, the fearless and persevering advocate of his country's 
rights, who raised himself, with the consent of millions, to the 
people's throne, and who fell asleep in an honored old age, 
with the glad shouts ringing in his ears of a nation he had 
helped to redeem." 

P'or a year and a half after Mr. Hancock's death, there was no 
settled minister over this church. Mr. Benjamin Stevens sup- 
plied the pulpit for several Sundays, and on the 22d of October, 
1744, by a unanimous vote Avas elected pastor of this church, 
and invited to settle here, but he declined. At a subsequent 
meeting the call Avas repeated, but he declined again. At a 
meeting held on the 25th of Feb., 1745, three gentlemen Avere 
put in nomination, Mr. Vinal, Mr. NcAvman and Mr. Stevens. 
Mr. Stevens noAV had the largest number of votes ; but there Avas 
a division in the minds of the people, and in his reply, he pro- 
posed that the matter of his settlement should be laid before a 
council of clergymen of the neighboring churches, Mr. SteA^ens 
finally concluded not to accept. On July 29th, 1745, it was 
voted to extend an invitation to Mr. Lemuel Briant Avho Avas, on 
the 16th of Sept., 1745, unanimously elected minister of this 
church. On the 23d of the same month, " the precinct voted 
that there should be alloAved and paid unto the Rev. Lemuel 
Briant, (if he settle with them in the work of the ministry,) one 
hundred pounds in bills of credit on this province of the last 
emission, fifty pounds to be })aid at the end of the first year after 
his ordination ; the other fifty pounds to be paid at the end of 
the second year, as an encouragement toAvards his settling Avith 
them in the aforesaid work ;" and they then A'oted " that there 
should be alloAved and paid unto him, the said Mr. Lemuel 
Briant, fifty j)Ounds per year in bills of credit on this province of 
the last emission, for tAVO years after his first settling with them ; 
and at the end of two years, there should be an addition made 
of tAvelve pounds and ten shillings in bills of the like emission, 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 'i'il 

or in other bills equivnlent, as a yearly salaiy during his pei-form- 
wiX the work of the ministry among them." 

It ai)|)ears by an entry in the churcli records, that at a meeting 
held Sept. loth, 1745, it Avas voted "that the cluirch will forego 
the privilege of preceding the other qualified inhabitants in the 
choice of their minister, and Avill join with the other inhabitants 
of the said precinct, pursuant to a warrant made out for assem- 
bling them on the IGth instant, in order to the choice of a gospel 
minister to settle among them." Mr. Briant evidently accepted 
the call, for the church records contain the following : " Wednes- 
day, Dec. 11th, 174;"), Lemuel Briant was oi-dained the pastor of 
the first church of Christ in Braintree. The churches sent to 
Avere, the church at Lexington, the second church in Scituate, 
the second in Braintree, the first in Hingham, the first in Scitu- 
ate, the church in Milton, the first in Stoughton, the church in 
Doi-chester, the fix'st in Weymouth. The Rev. Mr. Bourne of 
Scituate, began with prayer. The Kev. Mr. Eells of Scituate 
preached from '2d Cor. iv : 5. The Rev. Mr. Niles of Braintree, 
gave the charge. The Rev. ]\[r. Taylor of Milton, the right 
hand of fellowshij*." 

Mr. Lunt says, " it has been said that Mr. Briant was not 
examined, at his ordination, as to his creed." Mr. liriant was 
born about the year 17'i2. He was a native of Scituate, ]\Iass. 
He graduated at Harvard College in 1730, and was admitted to 
full communion with the church in Scituate, July 5th, 1741. 

Before coming to Braintree, he preaclied some time in Wor- 
cester. His ministry here was brief, for his healtli failing him 
he petitioned to be dismissed. A precinct meeting Avas called 
October 22d, 175:} ; one object of Avhich was " to take into 
serious consideration the matter of the Rev. ]\[r. Briant's petition, 
bearing date October lOth, 1758, inscribed to the North Parish 
in Braintree; more especially that clause in the petition which 
earnestly desires that you Avill make Avay for the settling a minis- 
ter, by dismissing your present pastor from the burdens and 
labors of his office ; and if the ])arish after mature consideration 
had on the premises, shall think it ad\isal>l(' audit will l)e for 
the best, (all things considered,) both for the ])arisli, and for our 
Rev. Pastor, to grant him a dismission ; or if otherwise the I'ar- 



222 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

ish shall think best to Avait patiently some time longer, to sec if 
it may not please God in his good providence, to restore our 
revei-end pastor to his former state of health." 

John Quincy was chosen moderator. "Then the vote was put 
whether they would proceed according to the Avarrant ; it passed 
in the affirmative. Then the vote was \mt Avhether they would 
grant to the Rev. Mr. Briant his request in respect to his dismis- 
sion, and it passed in the affirmative. A committee Avas chosen, 
Edmund Quinsey, Esq., Major Joseph Crosby, Deacon Parmenter, 
Mr. Josiali Quinsey and Deacon Moses Belcher, to acquaint the 
Rev. Mr. Briant Avith the proceedings of the meeting, viz : that 
they have dismissed him from his ministerial office in this place ; 
and to return him thanks for his labors in the ministry among 
us." He died the year folloAving at Hingham, and Avas buried at 
Scituate. 

" From Mr. Biiant''s publications, one Avould be justified in }>ro- 
nouncing him a man of strong native abilities, of a capacious and 
vigorous intellect. He Avas a bold thinker, and fearless and 
independent in liis judgment. His Avit Avas pungent; he had 
considerable command of language and skill in the management 
of an argument ; and he was capable of giving forcible, pointed 
and felicitous exj)ression to his thoughts. In theological specu- 
lations, he had advanced considerably beyond the prevalent 
opinions of his day, and Avas one among that small but honored 
company of Ncav England divines, Avho had been able to extri- 
cate their minds from the dogmas of Calvin, and to discover and 
appreciate the native Avorth of simple, primitive Christianity." ^ 

After Mr. Briant's death, an inA'itation to settle here Avas 
extended to the eccentric Dr. Barnes of Scituate, but he 
declined. 

1. This letter was written by President John Adams to Dr. ]Marsh in refer- 
ence to the first effort made to establish liberal theology in the first parish: 

Quincy, May ]5th, 1815. 

"Dear Doctor, 

" I thank you for your favor of the 10th, and the pamphlet enclosed, entitled, 
'American Unitarianism.' I have turned over its leaves, and found nothing 
that was not familiarly known to me. In the preface, Unitarianism is repre- 
sented as only thirty years old in New England. 1 can testify as a witness to 
its old age. Sixty-five years ago, my own minister, the Kev. Lemuel Briant ; 



BKLIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 223 

On Oct. 8th, 1754, Anthony Wibinl was uii.uiitnonsly clioscn 
pastor of tlie Braiutrec First Clmrcli. lie was horn in Ports- 
mouth, X. II., and graduateil at Harvard College in the year 
1747. At first it was voted that he should receive a settlement 
of £133 6s. 8d. lawful money, and £80 yeai-ly salary. lie declined 
the invitation, hut heing requested to reconsider the matter, he 
accepted the offer finally made him, Avhich was, that he shoidd 
receive £100 salary and no settlement. 

The church records contain the following: "Wednesday, Feh- 
ruary the fifth, 1755, Anthony Wibird was ordained pastor of 
the first church of Christ in Braintree. The churches sent to 
were, the second and third churches in said town, the Rev. Mr. 
Xiles, pastor of the second, and the Kev. Mr. Taft, pastor of the 
third ; to the Kev. Messrs. Sewall and Prince of Boston ; to the 
first church in Cambridge, the Rev. Mr. Appleton, pastor; to 
the first church in Portsmouth, the Rev. Mr. Langdon, pastor ; 
the Rev. Mr. Bowman, pastor of the church in Dorchester; the 
Rev. Mr. Robbins, pastor of the church in Milton; the IJev. ]\lr. 
Smith of Weymouth ; the Rev. Mr. Gay of Hingham, and the 
Rev. !Mr. Dunbar, pastor of a chuicli in Stoughton. The Rev. 
Mr. Langdon began with ])raycr. The Rev. Mr. Appleton 
preached from those words in the lOtli Levit. od, ' I will be sanc- 
tified in them that come nigh me, and before all the peojile I will 
be glorified.' The Rev. Mr. Gay gave the charge. The Rev. 
Mr. Dunbar, the riglit hand of fellowshii)." * 

^Ir. Whitney in his history in sj)eaking of Wibird, says, " he 
was a learned man, though in his habits somewhat eccentric, and 
withal of great dignity, and beloved and respected by his j)eo- 
ple." He died June 4th, 1800, in the 4Gtlj year of his ministry, 
an<l ins remains lie in the same tond) with jNIr. Hancock. In the 
church records is the following notice : " Died June 4th, Rev. 

Dr. Jonathan May hew of the West Church in Boston; the Rev. Mr. Shiite of 
Hingham; the Kev. John Brown, of Cohasset; and periiaps equal to all, if not 
above all, the Kev. Mr. Gaj-, of Hingham, were Unitarians. Amonjj the laity 
how many could I name, lawyers, i)hysioians, tradesmen, farmei si Hut at 
l>resent I will name only one, liiciliard Cranch, a man who liatl studied divinity, 
and .Jewish antl Christian anti(|uities, more than any clerj^yman now existiiif; 
in New England. 

Jona Ax>\M>i." 



224 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Anthony Wibird, senior pastor of the Congregational Church in 
Qiiincy, aged 72. His funeral was attended on the 7th, when 
the Rev. IVIr. Williams of Weymouth made the prayer, and the 
Rev. Mr. Weld of Braintree preached from the words of the 
Apostle Paul, ' I have finished my course.' " Mr. Wibird for 
many years prior to his death was unable, from bodily infirmities, 
to attend upon the duties of his office, consequently it was neces- 
sary to supply his pulpit with other clergymen the greater part of 
the time. Mr. Whitman, afterwards a lawyer in Pembroke, and 
Rev. Mr. Flint, afterwards a minister in Cohasset, received calls 
to settle as colleagues with Mr. Wibird, but did not accept them. 

Rev. Peter Whitney having supplied the pulpit a short time, 
was invited to settle, and was ordained Feb. 5th, 1800. The 
services at his ordination were by the following clergymen : 
Introductory prayer, by Rev. Prof. Ware of Cambridge, then 
minister at Ilingham ; sermon by Rev. Mr. Whitney of North- 
borough ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Dr. Fisk of West Cam- 
bridge ; charge by Rev. Mr. Cummings of Billerica ; riglit hand 
of fellowship by Rev. Mr. McKean of Milton ; concluding prayer 
by Rev. Mr. Harris of Dorcliester. Mr. Whitney was born at 
Northborough, Jan. 19th, 1770. He was the son of Rev. Peter 
Whitney of Northborough, and grandson of Rev. Aaron Whit- 
ney of Petersham ; he graduated from Harvard University in 
1701. His death occurred suddenly March 3d, 1848, he being 
•seventy-four years of age. 

In 1835, William Parsons Lunt received and accepted a call to 
become a colleague pastor Avith Mr. Whitney, who was then 
advanced in years and not reluctant to divide the labors of his 
office with a younger man. The services of installation took 
place on the tliird of June, that year. The order of services were 
as follows, namely : Introductory prayer and selections from the 
Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Whitney of West Roxbury ; sermon by 
Rev. Mv. Frothingham of Boston ; prayer of installation by Rev. 
Peter Wbitney of Quincy ; charge by Rev. Dr. Parkman of Bos- 
ton ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Cunningham of Dor- 
chester; address to the society by Rev. Mr. Gannett of Boston; 
concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Huntoon of Milton. Mr. Lunt 
was born in Newburyport, Mass., April 21st, 1805. While quite 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 2*25 

young his i)arcnts removed to Boston, wliere he coimneneed liis 
scliool education ; at tlie age of ten lie was sent to jirepare for 
college at an academy in the town otVMilton ; he entered Harvard 
College in 1810, graduating in iJS'ivJ. The year subsequent to his 
graduation was spent in teaching school in I'lyniouth. From 
Plymoutli he returned to Boston and commenced tlie study of 
law ; but soon became convinced that this Avas not the profes- 
sion to Avhich, either by his nature or his habits, he was adapted. 
He entered the Theological School at Cambridge in 1825. Before 
he liad completed the prescribed term of tlieological study, he 
was invited to the i)astoral charge of the Second Congregational 
Unitarian Society, in the city of New York, Avhich, although it 
had been gathered some time before and had already erected its 
house of worship, had never, until his settlement, enjoyed a stated 
ministry. For six years previous to. this period the Rev. William 
Ware had been the only minister of the Unitarian faith in that 
great city. Mr. Robbins says, "hand in hand they walked, side 
by side they toiled, for more than five years, meekly and faith- 
fully fulfilling their sacred ministry." Mr. Lunt obtained a dis- 
mission from the church in Xew York in November, 1833. The 
interval between that period and his settlement in (Juincy, was 
employed in recruiting his strength by comparative rest, and in 
the occasional sui)ply of vacant puljuts. 

Mr. Lunt left Quiiicy on the tlrst of January, 1857, to visit the 
Holy Land, he having for many years cherished a desire to visit 
that region. On the 22d of February, he Avrote from Cairo : 
" Our tent is now pitched in the great square opposite my Avin- 
dow, and yesterday we tried for the first time the camel's back. 
It is more like a dream than anything wliiciihas ever hajtpened to 
me. Only fifty-three days have elapsed since I left home and 
now, here I am, Avith my most cherished jtlan about to be accom- 
jtlished ! Hoav amazing it seems to me to be commencing a jour- 
ney in which, all the way throu(/h, the Bible is the best guide- 
book ! Our expectation is to be in Jerusalem in about forty 
days, Avhich will bring us to the (3th of April. Easter this year 
falls on tlie 10th of Apiil, ami that will be a truly intei-estiiig 
occasion to be in Jerusalem. Vou will not, therefore, expect 
to hear from me or of me for a long time after this. But 1 trust 
30 



226 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

in the kind care that has preserved me thus far, to enable me to 
carry through to a happy result this, the darling wish of my life." 
On the 28th of February he writes from the desert itself, a few 
miles distant from Suez : " Our ride in the desert has been beau- 
tiful, the atmosphere has been clear and bracing. I never 
enjoyed any scenery more highly. At sunrise this morning, 
while the Bedouins were striking the tents and loading the cam- 
els, our party walked forth to enjoy the exhilarating air. The 
hills on either side, although composed of nothing but stone and 
sand, yet presented the most beautiful forms against the clear sky, 
and were colored with the softest tints. Every shade imagina- 
ble of brown and purple was displayed upon their many angles, 
and mingled with the masses of shade. I have just mounted one 
of them, and with a telescope, had the pleasure of seeing the 
Red Sea, stretching its blue line down from Suez, and beyond it 
the hills of Asia. I never felt better in my life, and everything 
looks inviting before me." His tone was cheerful — ever jubilant. 
He little thought then that in a few short days he should pass 
away even before reaching the sought-for goal, but so it proved. 
The day after leaving Sinai, a disease which had been coming 
on stealthily for several days previous, began to manifest more 
decided symptoms, and was evidently fastened upon him. The 
only chance of relief was in getting to some inhabitable place. 
He was carried forAvard for three or four days, by short stages, 
as carefully and gently as was possible on a camel's back. They 
halted at Akaba, a small and mean village of Arabia Petraea, sit- 
uated at the northern extremity of the Elanitic gulf, the east 
arm of the Red Sea. Every thing was done to comfort the inva- 
lid that the skill and kindness of his intelligent fellow-travellers 
could suggest or supply. But it was in vain. While neither 
they or he anticipated immediate danger, he was already beyond 
the reach of human aid. The second night at Akaba, after a 
short fever, attended with delirium, a deep sleep fell upon him, 
and in it he passed away. Decently and reverently, on the 
morning of the 'ilst of March, his mortal remains were laid 
away in the sand. A rude heap of stones marks the spot.-^ 

1. Mr. Robbins says of him, " All his writings — for the pulpit, for the mag- 
azine, for the regular services of the church aud fur extraordinary occasions, 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 227 

Mr. Lunt was the greatest pulpit orator and sermonizer, and 
the Rev. Mr. Briant the most noted controversialist, that ever 
adorned the sacred desk of the First Cluirch. 

After the death of Dr. Lunt, the i)ulj)itof this society remained 
over three years vacant ; during this interval various clergymen 
preached as candidates for settlement. At this time the Rev. 
^Ir. Ilepworth received an invitation to be settled over this par- 
ish, but declined the call. In the year 1860, Rev. John I). Wells 
received a call and acce])ted. Rev. Mr. AYells was ordained over 
the First Church, Thursday, December 27th, 1860. The ordina- 
tion exercises were as follows : Prayer by Dr. S. K. Lothrop ; 
sermon by Dr. J. II. Morrison of Milton ; ordaining prayer by 
Dr. Ezra S. Gannett ; charge by Dr. A. P. Peabody ; right hand 
of fellowship by the Rev. Rufus Ellis; address to the peoi)le by 
C. A. Bartol, D. D. ; concluding prayer by Wm. Xewell, D. D.; 

theological, moral, biographical, historical, and literary, rise above the ordinary 
level. lint some of his occasional discourses are almost unrivalled in their de- 
partment. They are models and will be, long after these granite -walls, which 
echoed his elo(iuence, shall have crumbled into dust. For vigor of thought, for 
closeness of reasoning, for acuteness of discrimination, for correctness, dignity, 
and force of style, for soundness, maturity, and independence of opinion, and 
for solidity and earnestness of conviction, they are justly entitled to the high 
distinction they have already acquired and to an enduring fame. But, in addi- 
tion to all these features of excellence, there is discoverable in many of his fin- 
est discourses another quality, so characteristic of himself as he really was, and 
yet so unliice what he may have seemed to be to those who judged of him only 
by the surface that I cannot in justice to my impression of him refrain from at- 
tempting to describe it. It is a certain repressed heat, a pent up fervor underly- 
ing the thought and style; — as the earth's central fire underlies the calm face of 
nature, the cool and quiet pastures, the gently curving hills, and the moun- 
tains with their gray and passionless brows,— the existence of which the reader 
or hearer might fail to suspect, till at some unexpected moment it would Hash 
out upon him in a sudden tlame of eloquence or heave up a majestic .sentence. 
The discourse delivered at the interment of his venerable parishioner, one of 
America's most renowned sons, one of freedom's most valiant and illustrious 
defenders, one of history's most honored names is worthy of a place beside of 
any funeral oration of ancient or modern times. That also in commemoration of 
the great statesman and eloquent orator whose name is identified with the Con- 
stitution and engraved upon the arch of our union, has no superior amongst the 
many eulogies that were pronounced over his grave. The two historical ser- 
mons preached here on the two hundredth anniver.sary of the gathering of the 
First Church in Quincy have earned for their writer an enviable reputation in 
another department of literature which he cultivated with a lively interest." 



228 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

benediction by the pastor. Mr. Wells was greatly devoted 
to his parish, bat was more of a pastor than a preacher. During 
the latter part of his administration he received a greater salary 
than any other of his predecessors. July, 18G4, he enlisted as a 
private in the regiment of three months men who were stationed 
in the west. In 1871, being out of health, he asked of the society 
a vacation of a few months for the purpose of taking a tour to 
Europe for the restoration of his health. This request was freely 
granted him by the parish. On his return, with renewed health, 
he resumed his labors where he continued to minister to their 
Avants until failing health caused him to resign his charge. Mr. 
Wells delivered his farewell sermon May 28th, 1876, which 
closed his pastorate with the First Church, after having been 
connected with the parish about nine years and five months. Mr. 
Wells while connected Avith the church established and carried 
on quite a large and extensive private school. He graduated at 
Harvard College in 1854, and from the Divinity School in 1859, 
and was twenty-five years of age at the time of his settlement 
here. At the present time we believe he is settled over a parish 
in Los Angeles, California. Since his resignation the society 
have been without a .settled pastor ; during this time the pulpit 
has been most of the time supplied by candidates for settlement. 
In the year 1877, they extended tAVO calls to eminent clergymen. 
The first was to the Rev. Dr. Putnam, D. D., of Brooklyn, New 
York ; the other was to the Rev. Ellery Channing Butler, of 
Danvers, Mass., both of which were declined. 



Mr. Hancock, in his century sermons, delivered in 1739, page 
25, makes the following statement in reference to the first meet- 
ing-houses erected by the First Congregational Society of this 
town : " This is the third house, in Avhich Ave are now Avorship- 
])ing, that Ave and our fathers have built for the public Avorship 
of (4od." 

Of the time of construction or site of the first meeting-house 
Ave can neither find traditional nor recorded evidence. Of the 
second stone church Ave cannot find a record regarding the time 
it Avas built, although a vane that was taken from this house at 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 229 

the time it was pulled down, bore date of IGGG, wliioli by some 
has been considered tin- time of its construction; this is very 
uncertain, and to my mind conjectural. But as to its location 
we have recorded testimony reu^istered in Suffolk County, Avliich 
makes it appear that the building stood opposite the ))resent 
Public Library, in the road, near the corner of Canal and 
Hancock streets, although tradition relates that it stood a short 
distance north of this. 

The old Plymouth road was laid out in 1640, and when it 
came to this church it divided and went two rods at each end of 
it ; from this it would appear that it stood east and west. It 
was small, but large enough for the times. The ])rc('isc time the 
town ])laced a bell on the old Stone Church we are not able to 
state ; it might have been when the vane was })ut on, in 1G6G. 
It is very evident that this old meeting-house was supplied with 
this very necessary appendage to call the worshippers together, 
and also to be used as an alarm bell. We have said that it was 
very cei'tain that a bell was on this house from the fact that 
December 24th, 1694, the town appropriated twenty-five shillings 
to pay ]Mr. Thomas Revells for ringing the bell and sw^eeping tlio 
meeting-house the year previous. The bell was small, weighing 
about 200 pounds, and in 1709-10 had become cracked and un- 
serviceable ; and ]\Ir. Daniel Legaree, having a strong antipathy, 
to being elected to the office of constable, agreed to rejiair the 
bell free of all cost, if the town would agree not to choose him 
constable. 

At the precinct meeting it was voted that, " Whereas the 
meeting-house bell, by reason of the great crack in it, is become 
utterly unserviceable, and Mr. Daniel Legaree offering to mend 
it on condition of his being freed from being chosen constable, 
as also that he will run the hazard of losing his labor and cost in 
case he cannot mend it; and further, that if .•inything should 
happen whereby it should be melted or broken, that he will return 
the same weight of the same metal that he receives. It is voted 
that the bell be forthwith committed unto him upon the condi- 
tions above said, and if said Legaree shall mend it well and work- 
manlike, whereby it shall again prove sufticiently serviceable 
according to its dimensions, he shall either be freed from being 



230 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

constable as he desires, or be paid for his labor according to its 
due value." 

It appears that Mr. Legaree was not able to fulfil his contract, 
as Mr. Edmund Quincy was appointed in 1715 to purchase a bell 
of 250 pounds weight, that had recently arrived from England, 
for £40 ; but it was not until 1721 that they were able to procure 
one of 290 pounds weight. The other bells that were subse- 
quently placed upon the church were of the following weights : 
949, 1500 and 3600 pounds. 

By a vote of the precinct in 1715, the custom of ringing the 
bell at nine o'clock at night Avas first established. 

In 1714, the Old Stone Church went through a general repair. 
" Then voted, that the walls of the meeting-house be effectually 
mended and plastered to the plate within, white-washed and 
painted without ; the lower floor and stairs, with their entry 
spaces, be repaired, and that any small pieces of ceiling not be- 
longing to the pews be done ; that the windows be well mended 
as to the frames and glass, excepting what belong to the pews, 
and effectually provide gutters for the conveyance of water 
from the walls ; as also to see the platform on the top be sub- 
stantially mended by the advice of skillful workmen, and a 
turret built upon it." It would appear from this vote that there 
was no spire upon the church, but that the bell was hung in a 
frame erected upon a platform, and that they Avere about to build 
a cupola for it. 

The old church was furnished with seats — pews were too ex- 
travagant a luxury for the common people of that day; but in 
course of time pews were built by those who desired them at 
their own expense, and with consent of a vote of the precinct. 
After 1700 a constant stream of votes for the permission to con- 
struct pews are to be found on the records. The sexton found 
it rather a vexatious task to seat the congregation, as the records 
indicate numerous com})laints and debates in the precinct meet- 
ing, on the question that many of them were assigned too low a 
seat in the synagogue. The women were separated from the 
men. 

The church was without heating apparatus, having neither 
fire-place nor stove. Foot stoves, so fashionable at one time, 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 231 

were not in use. But they preached their brimstone theology 
with sucli fervor tliat it imparted sufficient cah^ric to keep them 
comfortably warm in the coldest weather during those long, (and 
would have been to modern worshippers) tedious services ; long 
they must have been, if their clergymen's prayers were as 
lengthy as some of the lie v. Samuel Torrey's of Weymouth, who, 
upon a public Fast Day in 1096, prayed two hours ; and so 
gifted was he in prayer that some of his audience desired that 
he might have continued an hour longer. 

In 1095 the worshippers, owing to the increase of the inhab- 
itants of the town, found their church too small, and somewhat 
in a decayed condition. At a public meeting in November of 
this year they voted to build a new one, but this vote was not 
complied with, as at a subsequent meeting "Mr. Caleb Hubbard 
and Mr. Benjamin Savill were instructed to stop the leaks in the 
south side of the meeting-house." This seems to have relieved 
them of their trouble, and satisfied them for thirty-five years ; 
in the mean time, they had been relieved of a considerable por- 
tion of their congregation by the establishment of a new society 
in the middle precinct. 

March 30th, 1730, the church was again so out of repair that 
the town paid Mr. Joseph Parmenter, Precinct Clerk, twenty 
shillings for clearing cart-loads of snow from inside the church. 

At this time the canine race became so imbued with the re- 
ligious sentiments of their masters, that they began to attend 
church. This so annoyed the congregation that the town voted 
to instruct Mr. Parmenter to expel all the dogs out of the 
meeting-house on the Sabbath day, for which he was to receive 
twenty shillings. 

The society decided to build a new church in 1730-31 ; the old 
stone one remained until 1747-8 before it was sold. The first 
account we find in the town records relating to its sale was to 
Brackett and Field, September 25th, 1747, on condition that tliey 
would build a poor house ^ on the same site for the use of the 

I. September 25, 1747. At this meeting the question of building .i poor 
liouse for the town's poor came up for consider.ition, and on the debate of this 
question it was moved to said meeting that the old stone meeting-house miglit, 
iu manner, be made to serve in that case by some alteration. A committee being 



282 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

town. They were to receive from the town, when the building 
was completed, all the stone and timber of the old meeting- 
house, and fifty pounds in bills of credit. From some cause or 
other this sale seems to have proved abortive. 

We have been unable to find any other mention of this church 
in the town records. According to the precinct records it was 
sold the latter part of February, 1748, to the highest bidders, 
Serg. Moses Belcher and Mr. Joseph Nightingale, for £127, old 
tenor." 

The following abridged historical account of the third meeting- 
house erected by the First Church was written by the Rev. Fred- 
eric Augustus Whitney, son of one of its former pastors, and 
published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Reg- 
ister, 18G4. 

After they had decided (March 2d, 1731) to erect a meeting- 
house, Mr. Edmund Quincy, Samuel Tompson, Benjamin Webb, 
and Joseph Crosby were chosen a committee to solicit subscrip- 
tions, make a plan, and divide the pews into different divisions 

tlien instantly appointed by said meeting^ and desired directly to go and view 
the same and report again to this present meeting what they should think ad- 
visable in the affair. The said committee instantly going, returned, and by 
their report thought it not advisable to improve the said house as proposed, 
by alteration ; but rather to pull down the said stone meeting-house, or make 
sale of it, and to build another in the same place, as proposed, for to be im- 
proved for the poor as the town shall think best. "^And then, after some further 
consideration and debate thereon, and upon the motion made by Messrs. Eichard 
Erackett and Ebenezer Field to said meeting, ' That, if thej-^ would let them 
have the said stone meeting-house, viz: All the Stone, Timber, with all therein 
and thereon, and also give them fifty pounds in Bills of Credit of the old tenor, 
(viz., in passable Bills of Credit ecjuivalent thereto,) that they would undertake 
and build the Town a Double House on the same spot where the stone meeting- 
house now stands/ viz: build a house Thirty-six feet in length and Sixteen feet 
in breadth, within Boards or Studs; They, the said Brackett aud Field, to find 
the Timber, Boards, Nails, aud all other material necessary, and to frame, raise, 
complete, aud finish said House, in all parts and respects at the cost and charge 
of said Brackett and Field, by the first of March next coming; for which ser- 
vice and cost the said Brackett and Field to have the said old stone meeting- 
house, witli all the Stone, Timber, Boards, Nails, or whatsoever belongs to the 
said house in such sort, excepting only so many of the Stone as to stone a small 
cellar under the House they are to build as aforesaid, and to have fifty pounds 
in Bills of CJredit of the Old Tenor, — or in other passable Bills Equivalent 
also us aforesaid.' Put to vote, aud it passed in the aiKrmative." 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. / *238 

and prices, as follows, viz : eight pews at twenty-five })Ountls, 
twelve at fifteen, eight at twelve, six at ten, and six at seven 
]iounds. The galleries to have twenty pews, eight in the front 
against the wall at ten pounds, six on each side against the wall 
at eight pounds each. The following are the names and amounts 
of those who subscribed for pews in the new church : 

"Edmund Quincy one at C'i") ; John (^uincy one at £*25; Jos. 
C'rosbyone at £:i5 ; David Kawson one at £25; John Beale one 
at f 25 ; John Baxter one at £25 ; Jolin Ruggles one at £25 ; Peter 
Adams one at £15 ; Benjamin Webb oneat£15 ; Joseph Brackett 
one at £15; Nathan Brackett one at £15; David Bass one at 
£15 ; Samuel Tompson one at £15 ; Samuel Belcher one at £15 ; 
Ebenezer Xightingale one at £15; Josiali Adams one at £15; 
.Tohn Sj)ear one at £15 ; John Mills one at £15 ; .John Adams one 
at £15 ; Joseph Xeal one at £12 ; Benjamin Xeal one at £12 ; Seth 
Bass one at £12 ; Samuel Penniman one at £12 ; Moses Belcheiiv' 
one at £12; Closes Belcher, .Jr., one at £12; Benjamin Iiaxter 
one at £12 ; Stephen Cleverly one at £12 ; Benjamin Beale one 
at £10 ; Pelatiah Rawson one at £10 ; Samuel Savil one at £10 ; 
Ebenezer Adams one at £10 ; Moses Paine, Jr., one at £10 ; Wil- 
liam Spear, one at £10 ; John Marshall one at £7; .John I^ass one 
at £7 ; Samuel Bass one at £7 ; Joseph Pray one at £7 ; William 
PMeld one at £7 ; Ebenezer Field one at £7. And in the gallery, 
Nathaniel Belcher one at £10 ; Christopher Webb one at £8 ; ^ 
Ebenezer Crane one at £10; Thomas Crosby one at £10; Simon 
Crosby one at £8 ; Nathan Brackett, for his niece, one at £10. 

"The church was raised in July,^ 1731, and was dedicated Oct. 
8th, 1782. 'The text i)reached upon at the dedication,' says 
the minister. Rev. Mr. Hancock, ' was Isaiali, i.x cliapter, 18th 
verse.' The sacranu'iit of the T^ord's Supper was then admin- 
istered. 

"Madam Norton jjresented to the church a very handsome 
velvt't cushion for the ])ulpit. 

1. " After considerable debate at the meeting, conceriiin<; the raising of the 

new nieetinfj-hoiise, the (luestioii \v:is \mt whetlier the roniniittee sliould jmr- 

cliiise Bread, Cheese, Su;,'iir, Kniii, Sider, and lieer at tlie cost of Hit* i)recin(t, 

'^ and it passed in tlie athrniativo. The church was raised July L'Tth, "JStli, 'Jiith, 

17:il." — Precinct liccords. 

31 



234 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



"The subjoined diagram, abridged from the original, repre- 
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" The following notice from a historical sketch, describes 
its dimensions and appearance in 1827 : ' The dimensions of 
this house are as follows: Width, 56 feet; lengtli, 01 feet; 
height of tower to bell deck, 50 feet ; heiglit of cu|)ola from 
the bell deck, 25 feet; height of ball above the vane from tlie 
ground, 75 feet. The appearance of the church, inside as well 
as out, is still very res])ectable. There are 87 pews on tlie lower 
floor, and all j)ainted throughout. The galleries, as also the roof, 
are supported by four large pillars, whicli give the house rather 




THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL (UNITARIAN) CHURCri. 
EREfTEP IN 1782; TAKEN DOWN IN 1827. 



Tim plato of tlie old rliiirch here iiresentcd has been kindly lo.ined ns by 
tlie Itev. Frederick A. ^Vbitney, of Boston (Allston). It was orif^iiially cut 
by IJowen for the History of Quincy, by tlio liov. Geor;:o ^VhitIley, piib- 
lislied in 1827. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 235 

a solemn and imposing a])])t'ainnc('. Tlio pulpit is in tlio ancient 
style of bnildinLC — liandsoinely carved — with one flight of stairs. 
l>elow is the communion table, forming the front part of a large 
])ew, according to ancient custom, made foi- the accommodation 
of the deacons, or perhaps, for the ruling elders. In front of 
tl)e gallery for the choir of singers is a handsome clock, ])re- 
sented to the society by two ladies : Madam Abigail Adams, 
Avife of President Adams, Senior, and Madam Esther IJlack, 
Avidow of the late Moses Black, p]s(j.' 

"As the dimensions, Avhen tlie churcli Avas taken down, Avere 
sixty-one feet by tifty-six, and, as fifteen feet Avere added in the 
Avidth in 1S05, the original size Avas sixty-one by forty-one. At 
first, the galleries AA'ere reached by stairs in the Avest corners of 
the church, as customary in early times, and all the pcAvs Avere 
square. There Avere tAA^o rows of body seats in front, on A\'hich 
Avere seated men and women on opposite sides. Behind these 
Avere tA\'(^ rows for tlie singers. AVhen the singers stood, they 
faced each other, AA^th a jtartition betAveen them, on Avhich to 
lay their books. The deacons sat in their place before the ])ul- 
jtit and lined off the Psalm. Mr. Lemuel J>rackett, Avho Avas 
born in 17S0, and is of the best authority on these matters of 
and near his time, informs me that Avhen he aa\'is a boy, Mr. Bab- 
cock, Avho afterAvards remoA^ed to Milton, led the shiging, using 
a ])itch-pipe. 

" It Avill be remembered by those Avho recall the old church, 
that it rested for underpinning on tA\^o roAA's of neatly hammered 
stone, and that the door steps Avere of similar material. The 
(Imrch as originally constructed had not this ; but it Avas added 
a])out 1700. The toAvn contemi)lated putting the liammered 
stone only under three walls of the church, leaA'ing the back, or 
east side, in its first rough finish. Now this side of the church 
looked towards Thompson Baxter's house, in AA-hich Rev. ]\[r. 
Wibird boarded, and Avas that AA'hich the pastor first a])proaclied 
in coming to his pulpit. He heard of the purpose of the tOAvn, 
and exclaimed : ' Why should not my side be hammered stone, 
too? It must be; I Avill jiay for it myself.' And, according to 
his accustomed liberality, he actually insisted on defraying the 
cost of that part of the stone. It Avas not uncommon, as I 



236 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

learned from my father, his successor in the ministry, for Rev. 
Mr. Wibird to look over the list of rates prepared for the pay- 
ment of his salary, and erase some names saying : ' this man has 
been unfortunate,' — or ' such an one needs the money more than 
I do,' — and thus, deductions were frequently made from his 
stated stipend. The hammered stones above named were used 
in the underi^inning of the houses erected on Cottage Avenue 
from the materials of the old church. 

'- When the church Avas taken down, each owner signed and 
sealed, and received fifty dollars for a pew beloAV, and ten dol- 
lars for one above. As owners and occupants could not be 
described on the diagl-am, we add a brief notice of each — 
given from the deed — of the owners on the final disposition of 
the edifice.^ 

1 . It will be borne in mind that the following list was published in 1864, hence 
many of the persons herein enumerated have since deceased: 

"No. 1. Owner, President John Q. Adams. His oldest son, George "Wash- 
ington Adams, attorney, of H. U., 1821, signs for him. President John Adams, 
former owner, died July 4th, 1826, in his 91st year. His wife, Abigail, died 
October 28th, 1818, aged 74. He was never absent from church, forenoon or 
afternoon, when in Quincy ; and was accustomed in the latter years of his life to 
sit on the short seat across the head of the pew. His son, the President, was as 
punctual at church; he died February 23d, 1848, in his 81st year. His widow 
Louisa Catharine, died May loth, 1852, aged 77. 

Xo. 2. Owner, Daniel Greeuleaf, who came from Boston in 17t'7; and raanj- 
years after, bought and occupied both the pew and the large and beautiful estate 
of Moses Black, — the original estate of Edmund, ancestor of the Quincy family. 
Mr. Greenleaf died March 25, 1853, aged 90 years, 6 mos. His wife died Jan. 
6th, 1839, aged 73. He was a brother to John, of pew Xo. 70, and cousin of 
Thomas, of pew No. 18; also, cousin to his own wife Elizabeth Greeuleaf. 

No. o. Owner, George Nightingale, formerly town clerk and treasurer; who 
died Feb. 25th, 1864, aged 77 years, 9 mos. Seth Burrill occupied before him. 
Asa Pope also occupied. 

No. 4. Owner, Cotton Tufts, H. U., 1777, died 1833, aged 76. This family 
lived in TVeymouth, attending constantly here. He was son of Dr. Cotton Tufts 
of "Weymouth, H. U., 1749, and fatherof Quincy Tufts, who is still a merchant 
at Ko. 105 "Washington street, Boston, where he has been engaged longer than 
any other single trader or lirm, ou the street. 

No. 5. Owner, Isaac Eiddle of Quincy Point. Nathan Josselyn also occu- 
pied it. 

No. 6. Owner, Anthony "'rt'ibird Baxter from the west part of the tow-n, died 
Sept., 1822. His widow Catharine signs the deed,. as executrix. 

No. 7. Owner, "^'illiam Hayden, Sen., deed signed for him by Wm. Haydeu, 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, '237 

"The old edifice stood towerless through the surarncr of 1828, 
while the new temple was progressing by its side. On the 3d of 
October, as tlie latter drew towards its coxn]»letion, the l)eU was 
drawn up from its summer position on tlie old roof to the cupola 

Jr., attorney. Judge Thomas Bcylston Adams, of H. U., 17!)0, son of Presi- 
dent John Adams, occupied it. He died 1832. 

No. S. Owner, George W. IJeale, (see Xo. 85.) Occui)ied hy John Brie.sler, 
merchant. 

No. y. Owners, Hannah Miller and her son Edward, of H. U., 1813, attornej'. 
He died in 1842. 

No. 10. Owner, Josiah Quincy. He owned, also, pew No. 34, and by a door 
connected the two for greater accommodation. This venerable statesman and 
true patriot, now in his !i3dj|-ear, passed the last summer as usual, at his coun- 
try seat at Quincy, where his ancestors settled and worshipi)ed more than two 
centuries ago. 

No. 11. Owner, Capt. Oliver Jenkins from (Quincy Point; died August, 182!). 
Occupants, Ebenezer Shaw and Perez Chubbuck, also of the Point. 

No. 12. Owners, jointly and occupants, Benjamin and Job Faxon. 

No. 13. " " " " Joseph Brackett, and widow Jerusha 

Newcomb. 

No. 14. Owner, James Hall. Occupants, Abner "Willett, ami Daniel French 
proprietor of the old tavern, afterwards called the Hancock House. 

No. 15. Owner, Elijah Spear, avIio owned and occupied until his death, the 
house still standing near the head of the Quincy canal, in which IJcv. ^Ir. Wi- 
bird lived, unmarried, through his ministry, then the estate of Thompson Baxter. 

No. 16. Owner, Jonathan Beale, whose house was on the western border of 
Quincy, close upon the Milton line. 

No. 17. Owners, Heirs of Samuel Spear. He lived at Houghs Neck, Quincy. 
The deed is .signed by Daniel Baxter, Jr., in behalf of the heirs. 

No. 18. Owner, Thomas Greenleaf, of H. U., 1784. He came from Boston in 
1803 — though a temporary resident here from 17!)0. His house in which he 
lived more than tifty years, west, beyond President Adams's, once belonged to 
Kev. Dr. Charles Chauncy of First Church, Boston, who lived here a few 
months of several successive years. Mr. Cireenleaf died Jan. 5, 1854, in his 87th 
year. His widow, Mary Deming, (Price,) died Feb. 22d, 185(i, in her 8yth year. 
He was brother to the wife of Daniel, of pew No. 2. 

No. 1!). Owner, Capt. Josiah I$ass, whose estate on Neponset turnpike con- 
nected with Hon. Josiah Quincy's. 

No. 20. Owner, Deacon Daniel Spear. It was before owned by Theophilus 
Thayer; then by (feorge his son. Josiah Brigham, merchant, occupied it. 

No. 21. Owner, Oliver Jenkins, as of No. 11. 

No. 22. Owner, James Mayo of (Juincy I'oint. Deed signed by his widow 
Lucinda. It was occupied by Capt. Ezra Prior's family, also of Quincy Point. 

No. 23. Owner, Edward W. Baxter's estate. Josiah I'.axtcr signs deed for 
one-half of it. John Colman also occupied it. 

No. 24. Parish pew for minister's family. 



238 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

of the new church, without at all coming to the ground, leaving 
the old house ready to he taken down. Here the society gath- 
ered for the last time, for religious worship, on Sunday, October 
twelfth. In the afternoon, the pastor, Kev. Mr. Whitney, de- 
No. 25. Owner, James Baxter, whose estate adjoined Thomas Greenleaf's. 

No. 2(5. Owners and occupants jointly. Deacon Daniel Si>ear and Nedabiah 
Bent. 

No. 27. Owner, Jonathan Baxter of Quinc.y Point. 

No. 28. Owner, Bryant Newcomb, who also owned a pew in the east end of 
the south gallery where he always sat himself. 

No. 29. Owner, Adam Curtis, occupied also by his brother Samuel, sons of 
Noah, and all extensively engaged in the manufacture of boots. 

No. 30. Owner, Noah Curtis from Pain's Hill, town treasurer. 

No. 31. Owner, Deacon Samuel Savil, occupied also by his son Josiah Savil. 

No. 32. Owner, Ebenezer Crane, occupied also by his son-in-law, Josiah 
Nightingale. 

No. 33. Owner, \Vm. Baxter, Jr., occupied also by Paul Wild. 

No. 34:. Owner, Josiah Quincy, connecting with No. 10. 

No. 3.'5. Owner, Frederick Hardwick. 

No. 3G. Owner, Josiah Bass, as of No. 10. 

No. 37. Owners, Edmund Billings' estate, by Lemuel Brackett administrator, 
one-third, — Jernsha and Mary Billings, each one-third. 

No. 38. Owner, Daniel Greenleaf (as of No. 2), occupied by his sister Priscilla 
widow of John Appleton, and her son Alfred. 

No. 30. Owner, George H. Apthorp. The deed is signed for him by Rev. 
Benjamin Clark Cutler, of the Episcopal Church, Quincy. Aaron Mason also 
occupied, of the tirraof Chamberlin and Mason, wheelwrights. 

No. 40. Owner, Lemuel Brackett, (see No. 54,) occupied by Ebenezer Green. 

No. 41. Owner, Lemuel Pope, from S(iuantum, north-east part of the town. 

No. 42. Owner, John Savil, son of Deacon Samuel Savil. 

No. 43. Owner, John Souther, shipwright at Souther'.s wharf, Quincy. 

No. 44. Owner, James Hall, son of Capt. John Hall, former owner. 

No. 45, Owner, Ezra Glover. 

No. 4(5. Owner, Jesse Fenno. Deed signed by Daniel Spear, executor. 

No. 47. Owners, Edward Glover, Polly Glover, administratrix, one-half each. 

No. 48. Owner, General Thomas Taylor, from "the Farms." 

No. 49. Owner, John Quincy Adams; deed signed as No. 1. John Spear 
occupied. 

No. 50. Owners, Saujuel and Ebenezer Rawson, one-half each. 

No. 51. Owner, Deacon Josiah Adams, occupied also by his son Josiah, Jr. 
Deacon Adams died April 24th, 1844, aged 80. He and his brothers, of pews 
Nos. 0" and 77, were second cousins to President John Q. Adams. Deacon 
Adams' widow, Margaret, died Feb. 3d, 1849, wanting 9 days of 75 years. 

No. 52. Owner, John Bass, kindly remembered by many; living on Granite 
street to an advanced age, his sister l^olly with him; both unmarried. Occu- 
pied also by William Seaver, teacher, and Dr. Ebenezer Woodward. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 239 

livereil a farewell discourse, approjtriate to the occasion, from 
the words of the Prophet Zechariah i : f). 'Your Fathers, where 
are they? and the Prophets, do they live forever?' 

" In the afternoon of the next day the old church was sold at 

No. 53. Owner, Elislia T. Crane. Occupied also by Ebenezer Nightingale. 
This pew formerly belonged to Thompson Baxter, with whom Rev. Mr. W'ibird 

lived. 

'No. 54. Owner, Lenuiel Urivckett. Helonsed fortnerly to lii.s' f;itlier Juiiios, 
who died August Kith, ]S'_'5, in his HOtii year, a constant attemlant at church, 
and, in his lutter years, sitting in the pulpit hj' reason of deafness. He is great- 
great-great-grand .son of the original ancestor. Captain Kichard Uracikett, Dea- 
con, Boston, l(i.'52, — who, with wife Alice, joined Hraintree, now Quincy, First 
Church, — town clerk. — third captain of the town, which ottice, by reason of in- 
tirniities he begged to lay down in 1684, and the court appointed Edm. Quincy 
to succeed him. Richard gave a silver cup to the church which is iu.scribed 

with the initials of him and his wife, after the ancient custom, thus: p ^.' » 

He died March 5th, 1690, aged 80. 

No. 55. Owners, jointly, Capt. James lirackett, older brother of Lemuel, anil 
Thomas Phipps as administrator. Jt was occupied also in the latter years of 
the church by the families of William \\'liall and Charles Park. Capt. Jirackett 
kept a store by his house, which was on the north-east corner of Hancock and 
Kim streets. The old town hay scales, unlike what we see now, stood in front 
of this store. This house was built in 17!)4-5, by James, father of Capt. James, 
and was on the site of the old well-known JJrackett tavern kept by James, 
grand-father of Capt. James. Capt. James Brackett removed from Quincy in 
18'_'5, to Philadelphia; and, after residing .some years at Greeilport, L. I., died 
at Philadelphia, April l«th, 1855, in his 8(>th year. 

No. 50. Owner, Dr. Thomas Phipps, who succeeded his father. Dr. Thomas, 
of H. U., 1757, as physician in Quincy, and who fell dead, August .'iOth, 18;5'_', 
from ossification of the heart, as he was leaving his house on School street, 
walking to the Town Hall to meet the officers of the regiment and resign liis 
comnii.ssion as its surgeon. He was at ("ambridge commencement, with his 
family, seeming never in better health, on the day before, when his son Harri- 
.soa Gray Otis Phipps, afterwards mini.ster at Cohasset, took part on graduating. 
The first owner of this pew was Capt. Joseph Neal Arnold, who was named for 
old Deacon Neal. 

No. 57. Owner, Capt. James IJrackett, of No. 55. Lewis Baxter occupied it. 

No, 58. Owner, Henry Hardwick, who lived at the foot of I'ain's Hill. 

No. ."jil. Owner, Peter Keating. His son-in-law Lemuel IJaxter, and Thomas 
Niuhtingale also occupied it. 

No. (iO. Owner, Elijah Spear of No. 15. Occupied by Mo.ses Ueetl Marsh and 
Kdniund, brothers, who carrieil on a boot factory on Hancock street, opposite 
bouse of L. Brackett. 

No. (il. Owner, Elisha Marsh, who dietl April 17th, 1847, aged (55. His widow 
Lucy died Jan. 23, 18G4, aged 81. Former owner, bis father, Wilson Marsh, 



240 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

public auction by Deacon Daniel Spear ; the tower, as we have 
seen, having been disposed of before. Its parts were separately 
sold and in the following order : The pulpit window, broad and 
handsome, with a semi-circular top, alone had inside blinds, and 

who died July 7, 1828, aged 78. Wilson was great-grandson of the original 
ancestor, Lieut. Alexander Marsh, Freeman, 1654, who married, probably, 
Dec. 19, 1655, Mary, daughter of Gregory Belcher, and died March 7, 1698, aged 
about 70. Alexander's son John was father, probably, of John, of H. U., 1726. 

No. 62. Owner of one-half, William Newcomb. Occupied also by his sons. 

No. 63. Owner, John Pray, who died at an advanced age; father of Lewis G. 
Pray, long engaged in business in Boston, now residing at Roxbury. 

No. 64. Owners, jointly, Joseph Tield from the foot of Pain's Hill, and Wil- 
liam Baxter, School street. 

No. (55. Owners, jointly, .Jedadiah and Peter Adams, brothers; from whose 
estate on Sea street, Rev. P. Whitney purcha.sed land in 1801, on which to erect 
his house, and subsequently, in 1809. 

No. 06. Owners, jointly, William Spear and Daniel Hobart, the latter being 
sexton for many years. 

No. 67. Owner, Ebenezer Adams. He died June 10, 1841, aged 79 years, 1 
mouth. His widow Elizabeth died Sept. 26, 185(5, aged 81 years, 20 days. John 
Wliitney, merchant, at Quincy Point, also occupied it, who died Jan. 2, 1850, 
in his 65tli year. He was brother, and the wives of Ebenezer Adams, of Dea- 
con Josiah Adams, and of Lemuel Brackett, were sisters, of Rev. Peter Whit- 
ney. Mr. Adams bought this pew of the estate of Gen. Palmer, who lived at 
Germantown. 

No. 68. Ownef, Lewis Bass, son of Deacon Jonathan Bass, former owner. 

No. 69. Owner, Wm. James, jr. Hannah Bent and mother also occupied it. 

No. 70. Owner, John Greouleaf, formerly Judge Richard Cranch's pew, 
whose daughter Lucy he married April 4, 1795. His estate was the ancient 
Cranch estate on School street. He was son of Sheriff William Greenleaf of 
I?ostou. Rev. Dr. Lunt, in the appendix to his sermon after the death of Hon. 
Thomas Greenleaf, says: 'there were two sheriffs of Suffolk at that time, and 
what is remarkable, they were brothers, one a Tory, Stephen Greenleaf, aad the 
other, William Greenleaf, an ardent Whig.' A sister of Mr. John Greenleaf, 
Nancy, married his wife's brother. Judge William Cranch of Washington. Mr. 
Greenleaf died March 29, 1848, aged 84 years, 6 months. His wife died previ- 
ous — Feb. 18, 1846, aged 79 years. Her mother and President John Adams's 
wife were sisters— the daughters of Rev. William Smith of Weymouth. Dr. 
Lunt concludes liis excellent senuon oti Mr. Thomas Greenleaf in these words: 
'And may it be our felicity, when our earthly work shall be ended, to leave be- 
hind us as untarnisehd a name, and as distinct, as unequivocal and as reliable, 
evidences of a useful and honorable life, as have been left behind him by the 
venerated friend, fellow-townsman and fellow- worshipper, upon whose grave I 
lay this humble tribute of affectionate respect.' And of Mr. John Greenleaf 
I )r. Lunt writes, as follows : ' This venerable man had been blind from his youtli ; 
but the care wliich his condition required was an office of love, and never a 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 241 

was sold first, to Isnac Dodge, for $3.00 ; then the stove, stand- 
ing on the north-west side, opposite tlie tower door, was sohl, 
witli its appurtenances, to David Riddle, Esq., for S4'2.50. The 
puljrtt and pews below were also sold to him for $53.00. The 
residue of the building was sold to Ebenezer Adams, for $202. 

burden, through his uniform cheerfulness and christian goodness. Mr. and 
^Irs. Greenleaf were among the excellent of the earth; and the memory of their 
quiet worth is cherished in many hearts.' Mr. G., we may add, though blind, 
was a constant attendant at church. He was likewise proficient on the organ 
and other musical instruments. 

No. 71. Owners, Peter Brackett, one-eighth; Betsey Brackett, one-fourth and 
two-tenths; Mary P. Adams, one-eighth; Frances Spear, Mehitable and Sarah 
Nightingale, one-tenth each. 

No. 72. Owner, Daniel Spear. John Billings and Mrs. Faxon also occupied it. 

No. 73. Owner, William Wood, master builder of the new stone church. The 
family of Thomas Crane also occupied it. 

No. 74. Owner, Peter Bicknell from Germautown, south-east part of Quincy. 

No. 75. Owners, Horatio N. Glover, one-half; Nathaniel Glover and Thomas 
Adams, one-quarter each. 

No. 7G. Owner, Jonathan Marsh, son of "Wilson, of pew No. Gl. He was 
much interested in historical and genealogical research. He endured a long 
and painful confinement in christian patience and hope, and died December 10, 
l.Sdl, aged 74 years, 8 mouths, 5 days. 

No. 77. Owner, Thomas Adams, whose estate was on Neponset Turnpike. 
He was brother of Deacon .Tosiah and Ebenezer. 

No. ~H. Owner, Solomon Nightingale. James Green also occupied it. 

No. 7i). Owner, Adam Hardwick. 

No. SO. Owners, Jonathan Cook and Daniel Spear. 

No. 81. Owner, "William Wood. George Veasie occupied it. Deacon Elijali 
"Veasie, his father, formerly. 

No. 82. Owners, Oliver Billings, one-half; George M. Gibbens, one-quarter; 
George B. Billings, one-quarter. 

No. 83. Owner, John Dwelle from Pain's Hill. Henry, brother of William 
Wood, also occupied it. 

No. 84. Owners, Luther Spear, two-thirds; Frances, widow of Seth Spear, 
one-third. 

No. H'). Owner, George W. Beale. He fell dead in his yard, of disease of the 
heart, Nov. 19, 1851, aged Gl). His father, Captain Benjamin Beale, former 
owner, died in 1825, at a very advanced age. Their largo and beautiful estate 
adjoined I'resideut Adams's on the west. 

No. 8(1. Owner, Peter Boylston Adams, brother to President John Adams. 
Ho died at a very advanced age. The deed is signed by Peter Turner as Guar- 
dian of Peter Boylston Adams, fur one-third; Mary Turner, for one-third; and 
Davis Hoardman for one-tliird. Elislia Turner also occupied it. 

No. 87. Parish pew for town's poor. 

32 



242 KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

The stone underpinning and steps were sold to Cotton Pratt for 
$82.50. Total, $383.00. 

"On the 28th of March, previous, the tower had been sold 
at auction, together with the underpinnings and dooi'-steps -con- 
nected with the same, to Mr. John Spear, for 170.00. The vane 
and ball on the cupola were purchased separately, by Mr. Henry 
Wood, for 13.25. The yet proceeds of the old church, including 
the tower and vane, were $456.25. 

" On the 8th of April following, the bell was moved from the 
cupola to the north-west end of the roof ; and on the 14th, in 
the presence of a large number of spectators, the cupola was 
thrown to the ground with a loud crash. 

" In the course of ten days after the sale of the church, it was 
wholly taken down and the spot graded, there having been no 
cellar beneath the building. The society worshipped in the 
Town Hall on three Sabbaths previous to the dedication, relig- 
ious services being susjieuded on the first Sabbath after the 
destruction of the old church edifice." 

In 1826, the question was agitated in reference to the building 
of a new edifice. April 11th, a committee was appointed by the 
parish, to whom was referred the subject of constructing a stone 
church. This committee reported, Nov. 6th, in favor of such a 
house, and their report was nearly unanimously accepted. 

A building committee was chosen, viz : — Thomas Greenleaf, 
chairman, Noah Curtis, John Souther, Lemuel Brackett and 
Daniel Spear. 

The cellar was commenced April 9tli, 1827, and on the 11th 
of June, the corner stone was laid with appropriate solemnities. 
A prayer was offered and an address made by the pastor. Rev. 
Mr. Whitney. Hon. Thomas Greenleaf, chairman of the building 
committee, made some interesting remarks and read the inscrip- 
tion^ on the plate, which was deposited in a lead box, together 
with the several deeds of land presented to the town by the late 
President Adams. 

The new church was located on the north-west of the old. 



1. The inscription is as follows : " A temple for the public worship of God, 

and for public instruction in the doctrines and duties of the Christian religion. 

"Erected by the Cougregatioual Society in the town of Quincy; the stone 




r \ I T A It I A \ < II r i: (■ ii 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. . 243 

nnd iinnicdiately contiguous; so close indeed were the corners of 
the two buildings, that in order to complete the right end of the 
stone ])ortico, it was necessary to remove the tower of the old 
church. 

The new church was dedicated to the service and worship of 
the one living and true God, on Wednesday, Nov. 12th, 18*28. 
Kev. Dr. Gray offered the introductory prayer ; Rev. Mr. Brooks 
read selections from the Scriptures ; Rev. Dr. LoAvell offered the 
dedicatory prayer; the pastor of the church. Rev. Mr. Whitney, 
jiveachcd from Genesis xxviii : 17 ; Rev. Dr. Porter offered the 
concluding prayer. 

The church is built of granite, with a pediment in front, sup- 
])ortcd by four Doric pillars, the shaft of each being a single 
block. It contains one hundred and thirty-four pews on the 
lower floor and twenty-two in the galleries. According to the 
report of the building committee, contained in the parish rec- 
ords, the work included in the original estimate made by the 
architect, was performed at a cost of $3000 within that estimate. 
The total cost of the building with the improvements around it, 
was §30,488.56, to which must be added the sum of $4350 voted 
to be paid to the proprietors of pews in tlie old meeting-house, 
and the cost of the furnace. The debt incurred by the erection 
of so costly an edifice, was finally, in the year 1833, wiped off. 

taken from the granite quarries given to the town by the Hon. John Adams, 
late President of the United States. 

This stone was laid June 11th, 182", in the fifty-first year of American 

■ Independence. 

The Rev. Peter Whitney, Pastor of the Society. 

John Quincy Adams, President of the United States. 

Levi Lincoln, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth of 

]Massachusetts. 

John Whitney, Daniel Spear, John Souther, 

Selectmen of the Town of Quincy. 

Building Committee, — Thos. Greenleaf, Chairman; Noah Curtis, John 

* Souther, Lemuel Brackett, Daniel Spear. 

Alexander Parris, Architect. 

W^illiam Wood, Master Builder. 

Memoranda: 

The population of the town, estimated at 2000. That of the United States, 

at 13,000,000. 

Engraved by Hazeu Morse." 



244 , RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

It lias been said that the stone for this church was all taken 
from the quarry given by Mr. Adams for this purpose, which is 
somewhat of a mistake, as the large columns and cajis Avere 
taken from the quarry now worked by Jesse Bunton & Co., 
formerly called the Rattle-snake Hill quarry. They were the 
first large shafts quarried in Quincy. 

Under the portico of this church, lie in a granite tomb, the 
remains of President John Adams and Abigail, his wife. The 
remains of John Quincy Adams and his wife are also deposited 
under this edifice. 

Feb. 16th, 1837, the parish granted permission to individuals 
to place an organ in the church, for the use of the worshippers. 
This organ had previously belonged to Trinity Church, in Bos- 
ton, and remained there until disposed of by the society for a 
better and more powerful instrument. 

The following is a list of the sacred vessels belonging to the 
church, with the inscriptions they bear, namely : — 

A small cup, having two handles, and marked on the bottom, 
'.' Joanna Yorke, 1685, B. C." 

A small cup of the same form as the preceding, bearing a coat 
of arms on the surface and marked on the bottom, "B. C, 
1699." 

A small cup of the same form as the preceding, plain on the 
surface, with the following inscription : — " The gift of Deacon 
Samuel Bass, Wm. Veasey, Jno. Ruggle, David Walesby, 1694." 

A high cup marked below the rim, "The gift of William 
Needham to Brantry Church, 1688." 

A high cup without mark or date, but apparently very old. 

A high cup marked, " The gift of Mrs. Mehetable Fisher to 
the First Church of Christ in Braintree, 1741." 

A cup marked, " The gift of the Ilon'ble Edmund Quincy, 
Esq., to the First Church in Braintree, Feb'y 23d, 1737-8." 

A tankard marked, " The gift of the Hon'ble John Quincy, 
Esq., to the First Church of Christ in Braintree, 1767." 

A tankard marked, " The gift of Mrs. Sarah Adams (Relict of 
Mr. Edward Adams, late of Milton) to the First Church in 
Braintree." There is no date added, but the church records fix 
the time Nov. 4, 1770. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



245 



Four large-sized flagons, marked as follows : — " Presented by 
Daniel Greenleaf to the Congregational Church in Quincy, 1828." 

Three plates, marked thus : — " Presented to the First Congre- 
gational Church in (Juincy, by Deacon Josiah Adams, Deacon 
Daniel Spear and Deacon Samuel Savil, 1828." 

A baptismal vase having this inscription : — " Presented to tlie 
Congregational Church in the town of Quincy, by Mrs. Eliza 
Susan Quincy, 1828." 

The two volumes of Scriptures, used in the pulpit, contain the 
following : — " To the Church and Congregational Society of the 
Town of Quincy, this Bible, for the use of the Sacred Desk, is 
respectfully presented by Josiah Quincy. Boston, Oct., 1808." 

" New bound and divided into two volumes, Oct., 1828." 

The following is a list of the clergymen of the First Church, 
in the order of their settlement, pastorate and time of death : — 



Name. 


Age at onlination. 


Pastorate. 


Age at death. 


Tompson, 


41 


27 


68 


Flynt, 


32 


29 


61 


Fisk, 


30 


36 


66 


Marsh, 


25 


16 


41 


Hancock, 


24 


18 


42 


Briant, 


24 


8 


32 


Wibird, 


27 


45 


72 


Whitney, 


31 


43 


74 


Lunt, 


30 


22 


52 


Wells, 


25 


15 


•~~ 



CHRIST CIIURCII. 



"It is commonly supposed that 1727 was the date of the par- 
ish's l)irth. But I have recently nsccrtained that its history goes 
far back of that. It is, I believe, with the e.\'ce])tion, possibly, 
of Trinity Church, Newport, the oldest Episcopal parish in New 
England, now that King's Cliai)el has changed hands. In an 
answer of the Church of England, in Braintree, to a charge laid 



246 ' RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

against them, bearing date, 1709, we read, 'Mr. Vese^^ minister 
of the Church of New York, when he was a youth, can say that 
he, with his parents and many more, were communicants of the 
Church of England, and that in their family at Braintree, divine 
service was daily read, which things to mention, would argue 
great pride and vanity, were it not in our own defence ; also, we 
leave it to your lordship to judge, how contrary to reason it is, 
that a fit of contradiction in us should last more than twenty 
years.' From which it appears that as early as 1689, a little 
company of church people held services here. In 1701, the 
charter of the society for the propagation of the gospel in for- 
eign parts was granted, and in March of the following year, 
quite a number of missionaries were sent out. The earliest 
mention of a missionary in Braintree is made at this time, which 
1 take from the only complete set of proceedings of the ven- 
erable society in this country, now in the library of Brown 
University, and is as follows: — 'Mr. William Barclay, the min- 
ister of the Chui'ch of England, at Braintree, in New England, 
had an annual encouragement of £50, and a gratuity of £25, for 
present occasions.' You will observe he is spoken of as already 
here. There is no record of the date of his coming. We do 
know that in 1679 there were two Church of England ministers 
in and about Boston, for King William granted £100 for their 
support. Whether Mr. Barclay was one of these, it is impossi- 
ble to say ; but we know certainly that he was here in 1702. In 
this year we have some words of a Col. Lewis Morris, of East 
Jersey, to Mr. Archdeacon Beveridge, Avhich are interesting, as 
showing what was thought of this place at that time : — 'Braintry 
should be minded,' he writes ; 'it is in the heart of New Eng- 
land, and a learned and sober man would do great good and en- 
courage the other towns to desire the like. If the church can be 
settled in New England, it pulls up schisms in America by the 
roots, that being the fountain that supplies, with infectious 
streams, the rest of America.' 

" By 1704, we find Mr. Barclay has returned to England. 
The paper that gives us this fact is a very valuable one, as the 
earliest document attesting the organization of the church in 
Braintree, the original of which, the endorsement shows, was 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 24t 

doubtless placed on file in the Archives at Fulham, by Mr. Eb- ^ 
ciiezcr jVIiller, when he went over for orders. It is an address 
to the Bishop of London, dated April 22d, 1704, and signed by 
William Vesey and John Cleverly, church wardens ; Jonathan 
Hayden, Samuel Tompson, John Sanders, John Daniel, Benj. 
White, Moses Benniman, John Vesey, Solomon Vesey, John 
Bass and Josiah Belcher, vestrymen ; thus showing what hereto- 
fore, I believe, lias not been known, that there was an organized 
parish here at that early day. In October of the same year, they 
])rove their official capacity, by giving their testimonial to Mr. 
Geo. Muirson, returning to England to receive holy orders, and 
beseech the Bishop of London to send them a minister. In 1709 
the same officers answer to the charge referred to, and renew 
their request. No response is made until 1713; in February of 
Avhich year, a Mr. Lambton, of Newbury, writes, 'there is not the 
least chance of reviving the church in Braintry.' Nevertheless, 
in August of the same year, the Rev. Thomas Eager is here, and 
writes a letter of considerable interest. He mentions two main 
impediments to the growth of the church : the taxing of the 
church people for the support of independent ministers, and v 
the want of a place of worship, the people fearing censure as 
conventiclers, if they should attend service in a i)rivate house. 
' The number of my hearers is uncertain, — sometimes thirty, 
sometimes fewer; but yet I am pleased to tell you that there are 
al)ove twelve communicants who receive monthly. I make no 
doubt but that this people use their interest to break our little 
community, by sending home false reports of my people, and of 
myself in particular. But we rely on the wisdom of the hon- 
orable society to discover their little artifices, which, if taken 
notice of, will, I fear, prevent our church ever getting footing 
in Braintry. This town consists of one hundred and twenty 
families, and was divided some years since, into two districts, as 
I am credibly informed, to prevent a Church of England min- 
ister to come among them. This whole province has been very 
much disturbed on account of my coming to this })lace, and 
accordingly have not failed to affront and abuse me wherever 
they meet me. Atheist and papist are the best language I can 
get from them. The people are independents, and have a per- 



248 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

feet odium to those of our communion.' And now comes a 
sentence which I think you will enjoy. It is to be hoped the 
title has lost its applicability, if it ever had any. ' Had this 
province,' he says, 'been called New Greet, instead of New 
England, it had better suited ; for the people are very great 
strangers to truth, and I do really believe that I have not passed 
one day since my arrival without one false report or other being 
raised upon me.' 

"But the people were not so untruthful as he represented 
them. Mr. Eager was anything but what he should have been. 
' A sorrowful account I hear from everybody referring to Mr. 
Eager,' writes Gov. Dudley, ' and the church is greatly hurt by 
him. During the few mouths of his stay here he was frequently 
in quarrels and fighting, and sending challenges for duels, that 
at length the auditory at Brandry were quite ashamed and dis- 
couraged, and he is gone to Barbadoes without any direction or 
order, and the congregation without any minister.' His place 
was filled in 1715 by the Rev. Henry Lucas, who very shortly, 
however, went to Newbury. The record reads 1716, ' to the 
Rev. Mr. Lucas, at Newbury, a library to be removed from 
Braintree, whither a supernumerary one had been sent by mis- 
take,' which allusion makes this a proper j^lace to mention, that 
in 1704, the library now on the shelves at the rectory, and num- 
bering about twenty volumes, was sent over for the perpetual 
use of the rector. The seal of the venerable society, on which 
this date appears, is a most curious design." 

The above historical sketch of Christ Church was written by 
their late rector, the Rev. Reginald H. Howe. 

Up to 1725 no church had been erected. The land on which 
the first meeting-house was built was granted to them as a free 
gift, by William and Benjamin Vesey, August 2Gth, 1725, " for 
the building of a Church of Enghmd on, and no other purjiose." 

In August, 1725, Samuel Paine gave a bond to jiay five 
pounds to Peter Marquand and other members of the com- 
mittee, for the erection of a Church of England in Braintree, 
As soon as sufficient funds could be procured, and definite 
arrangements made for its construction, the work was begun, 
and the meeting-house Avas completed in 1728. Dr. Miller, 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 1249 

their first rector, has recordid that the first meeting in tlie 
church was liehl on Easter Monday, 1728, 

Early in the year 17*26, Ilonry Turner, Peter !^^ar()uan(l, Jolni 
\'esey, George Cheesnian, Benjamin Vesey and Samuel Paine, 
made an agieement with Mr, Miller, by which he was to receive 
one hundred pounds to pay his expenses while absent in Eng- 
land, preparing for the ministry. 

This sum of money was to be returned to ^\v. Turner and 
other members of the committee, with interest, in one year, if 
before that time he should not l>e aj)pointed as a rector of the 
Episcopal Church in Braintree, by the honorable society for the 
])ropagation of the gosind in foreign parts. Dr. Ebenezer Miller 
was the second son of Samuel Miller, and was boi'n on Milton 
Hill in 1703, He was j^repared for college by ]Mr, Thacher, and 
graduated at Harvard College, Cambridge, as Master of Arts, 
in 1722, when he immediately commenced the study of divinity, 
and soon manifested a strong inclination for the Episcopal form 
of worship. 

After his agreement with the church committee, he went to 
England, and was ordained Deacon by Edmund, Lord Bishop 
of London, June 20th, 1720, and received the order of Priest, 
•Tidy, 1727, He was made ^Master of Arts at O.vford, July 16th ; 
and was licensed to preach the gospel in Massachusetts, July 
24th, 1727. He was appointed Minister to Braintree, in New 
England, August 26th; and Chaplain to the Duke of Bolton, 
September 28th, 1727, Soon after his return to Ncav England, 
he commenced his ministerial duties over the ch\irch at Brain- 
tree. About this time there seems to have been a controversy 
with the State Govei-nmeiit about taxing the society for the sup- 
]iort of the minister of the First Church.^ 

As far as we have been able to learn, Dr. ^Miller was the first 
native of the Puritan Prc)vincc, who receivcMl holy ordei-s in 
England to jireach under the P^piscojial form of worship. He 
returned to England again and received the degree of Doctor of 

1. " To Col. Qiiincy, from the Lieut. Governor : Ai)ril 7th, 1727. 

Sik: — "I have received a ineiuoiial from some persons living within the 
North Precinct, i!i I5r;iintree, who [irof(\ss tlionisclves of the (JInircli of Knglaiul, 
complaining of their being la.xed for tlie settlement of your minister, of which 

33 



250 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Divinity, at Oxford, December 8tli, 1747. His rectorship over 
tlie society continued thirty-six years. 

Tn Xov., 17()"2, Rev. Dr. Miller received a paralytic attack, 
under which he continued until the 11th of February, 17G3, 
when, to the great loss of the church, he departed this life, and 
was entombed in the church cemetery, on School street. 

At the close of his ministerial duties a list of tifly families 
belonged to the congregation, and fifty members of the com- 
munion ; tour hundred and eighty-eiglit infants and atlults were 
admitted to baptism, during the same time. His African slave 
liad a great and affectionate interest in him, as well as for the 
i-hurch, which was manifested by a silver cup being presented 
to the church for the sacrament, by his bondsman, which is still 
held in veneration by the society. 

It will appear, from the following extracts, taken from ]N[r. 
Hancock's century sermons of the First Church, and some time 
contemporary with Dr. Miller, that the most friendly and chris- 
tian relations existed between the two societies; and especially 
commendable was the spirit exhibited by the First Church to 
the Episco])als. viz : — ''In the vacancy before the Kev. Dr. Mil- 
ler received lu^ly orders for tliis place, this c-hurch admitted to 
their communion, all such members of the Church of England as 
desired to have occasional communion with them, and allowed 
them what posture of devotion they pleased, and they received 

you have a copy enclosed. I am surprised to find this matter driven to extrem- 
ity, especially, after the ho}>es you had raised in me, that your people were 
thoroughly disposed to make those of the Church of England amougst you easy 
in all these matters. 

" I am not iuformed who are your parish comnuttee, (tho" I suppose you are 
one. ) and therefore I pray that you wQuld acquaint them with my desire that a 
meeting may be called to consider of the case of these memorialists, and that 
you would use your utmost iutlueuce that it may be with gootl etfect. that those 
people nuiy obtain the relief they look for, as I think coumion justice entitles 
them to, whilst they contribute to the settlement and support of their owu min- 
ister. These are a matter of that weight with me, as 1 think highly to effect 
ye character and welfare of ye government. That I hope that it will not be 
passed over slightly by you and the people of liraiutree, and therefore I hope 
to hear some good account of it from you in a very short time." (No signature) 
—Mass. Arch., Vol. II, p. 41!». 

William Dummer was then Lieut. Governor, but this letter is in thehandwrit- 
iag (peculiiu- and difficult to decipher, ) of Secretary Willard. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 251 

the siu-raineiit stnmling. That tliou<xli l)y virliu' of coiniunninn 
of churclies, Congregational clmrclies admit to occasional fellow- 
ship the pious members of the Church of England, as well as 
of all other Protestant churches, without obliging them to own 
our covenant or submit to our government, yet it is the most 
known and avowed princijile of Congregational churches from 
their original, that as the matter of christian churches is visible 
saints, so the form of jtarticular churches which distinguishes 
them from others, is only the mutual covenant between their 
members, whereby they are especially bound and joined to each 
other in one society. Till, therefore, the members of other 
churches are received by covenant, we do not account them 
members of those churches they hold occasional fellowship with, 
nor enter them into our record of members, but account them 
members of those other churches, though they live ever so long, 
and have fellowship with us." 

The following statements were made by the l\ev. ^Ir. Han- 
cock, of the First Church : — 

" Upon 3[r. Miller's coming, this ])arish reimbursed (according 
to their own previous vote) to the declared members of the 
Church of England, their proportion of the charge of my set- 
tlement, and generously excused them from any further ])av- 
ments towards my support. And this was done before ever 
any act of this nature passed in the government. The vote 
above referred to is in these words, viz : — 

" 'Braintuee, North Precinct, May 21)th, IT'JT. 

" ' John Vesey, Benj. Vesey, Henry Turner, Samuel Payne 
and Samuel Hayden, personally appearing at this meeting, and 
desiring that the case of their being lately taxed to the settle- 
ment and support of Mr. John Hancock, might be considered 
by the preciuct, and that they might be relieved in the prem- 
ises.' 

"The question was put by the moderator whether tlic pre- 
cinct will reimburse John Vesey, Benj. Vesey, Henry Turner, 
Samuel Payne and Samuel Hayden, the sum or sums they are 
or shall be assessed, and that shall or may be collected of them, 
for the ordination charge and settlement of our Ki'v. Pastor, 
Mr. John Hancock, when they shall have a minister of the 



252 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Church of England settled and supported among them. It 
passed in the affirmative. 

"A true copy, from Braintree North Precinct Records. 

Joiix AoAjis, Precinct Clerk." 

Dr. Miller Avas greatly devoted to his parish, and one of the 
earliest, as Avell as among the ablest, defenders of the Episcopal 
form of worship in New England ; this caused him to have been 
highly censured in Revolutionary times, and perhaps unjustly 
so. Sabine, in his work on the Royalist, gives the following- 
account of this heated disputation : — " At his death, the project 
of sending a bishop to America had been agitated for some 
years, and the minds of the people were well prepared for an 
attack upo'n the Episcopal Church. His decease was unkindly 
noticed in one of the newspapei's, which created a heated con- 
troversy ; and before the excitement was allayed, the dissenters 
found themselves arrayed on one side and the dependants of the 
Crown on the other. The writing which his labors and decease 
produced, are to be considered as a part of the Revolutionary 
dissension in Massachusetts." 

The Miller family is now extinct in Quincy, in the direct 
male line of descent, Mr. Charles Edward Miller, the last male 
heir, having died in 1873, December 23d, aged fifty-four years 
and three months. The old Miller domain, which has been in 
the family a century and a half, has also passed out of the direct 
male line, into the hands of Mr. Bigelow, by inheritance, eldest 
son of Judge George T. Bigelow and nephew of the late Mr. 
Charles E. Miller. 

The Rev. Edward Winslow succeeded Dr. Miller as the rector 
of Christ Church. 

On the settlement of Mr. Winslow, the society and congrega- 
tion made an agreement with the society abroad, by whom he 
was ai)pointed, to provide a decent glebe (or rectory) for his 
accommodation. February 25th, 17G-1, a subscription was com- 
menced for this pur])ose, the head of which closes as follows : — 
" For the use and benefit of the Episcopal minister forever, per- 
forming divine service according to the liturgy of the Church 
of England, at said Braintree." Among the subscribers were 
John Apthorp of London, forty-two pounds, and John Borland, 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 253 

twenty pounds. The following is an abstract from the deed of 
land for the glebe or rectory, from Mr. Thomas Alleyii to the 
church wardens, viz : — " Thos. AUeyn of Braintree, for the sum 
of £30G 13s. 4d., paid by William Vesey and Oliver Gay, Avar- 
dens of the Episcopal Church in Braintree, in the behalf and for 
the sole use and benetit of said church, for the residence and 
occupation of the PZpiscopal minister of said church, to William 
Vcsoy and Oliver (lay, and their successors in the office of war- 
dens forever, to and for the sole use of said Episcojtal ("hurch 
of Braintree, a certain messuage or tenement, lying in Braintree 
aforesaid, containing by estimation si.v acres, be the same more 
or less, with house, shop and one barn, and all the outhouses 
thereon standing, and is bounded as follows, viz : — Northerly on 
the road leading to the landing place, easterly on the land of 
Peter Adams, southerly on land of Moses Brackett, westerly — 
l>artly on land of Benjamin Ruggles and partly on land of 
Grizzet Apthorp. May 23d, ITGo." — Suffolk JJeeds, Vol. CIV, 
p. 138. 

There is every reason to believe that the church would have 
sunk in«-ruins after the American Revolution, had it not been 
for the house and land, the rent of Avhicli kept it in repair, and 
afforded the occasional services of clergymen. A large fund 
may be of little advantage to a church, but a moderate amount 
of landed property greatly conduces to its i)ermanent estab- 
lishment. Some years ago this estate was sold by the church 
authorities to the late John D. Whicher, and is now in the pos- 
session of his heirs, on P]lm street. After ]\Ir. Whicher pur- 
chased this estate he sold the old rectory, and it was taken 
down. 

The llev. Edward Winslow officiated over this church thir- 
teen years, and was highly beloved and appreciated for the 
great interest he took in advancing the prosperity and welfare 
of the church, louring his rectorship, the number of families 
in the congregation was increased from fifty to sixty-eight ; the 
number of baptisms registered was two liun(he<l and si.xty-eiglit, 
and nine names were added to the communicants. The strug- 
gles ot\ the Revolutionary War seriously interfered with his 
success in increasiuir the members ob the societv. 



254 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Ill 1773, during his ministration, it was found necessary to 
enlarge the church at the east end, thirteen feet ; the pulpit was 
then removed to the corner of the north range of pews from 
the centre of the opposite side. 

In 1777, Mr. Winslow, on account of the Revolutionary War 
then going on, felt it his duty to resign his pastorate, assigning 
as a reason " that he could not safely read the prayer for the 
king, nor conscientiously forbear to read it, as by his ordination 
pledge he was obliged to conform literally to the prayers of the 
established church, and unless absolved by the power that en- 
forced the oath as the terms of ordination, he could not depart 
from it." 

Mr. Miller and Mr. Winslow received from the society for 
propagating the gospel, sixty pounds per year, the residue of 
the salary was made up by the parishioners. 

On the removal of Mr. Winslow, as the society could not 
pray for the king, this beneficiary was withdrawn, and it left 
the church in an embarrassed condition, and its existence was 
then little more than a society in name. This munificent dona- 
tion had amounted in all to more than 113,000. 

"The Rev. Edward AVinslow was son of Mr. Joshua Winslow, 
a respectable merchant of Boston. He graduated at Harvard 
College in 1741, and was intended for the Congregational min- 
istry, but the course of his studies led him to prefer Episcopacy. 
His father protested, and the son relinquished his profession and 
applied himself to commerce. He married and resided in Bar- 
badoes, one of the West India Islands ; but not being able to 
content himself out of the field of duty to which he had early 
been called, he quitted mercantile life, went to England, and 
was ordained by the ]?isliop of London, Deacon and Priest, offer- 
ing himself as a missionary to the A^enerable society before men- 
tioned. He was appointed to succeed Dr. Johnson in Stratford, 
Connecticut, but having a large family, and being desirous of 
giving them a better education than his circumstances iu Strat- 
ford Avould allow, he obtained the living of this church and 
removed here with his family, July 27th, 1764. While here, he 
occasionally preached in the neighboring churches of ])edham, 
Bridgewater, Scituate and Marshfield. Tliis society seemed to 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 255 

liave exercised a maternal care over those of tlie same com- 
munion in this vicinity." 

Mr. WinsUnv, after having witli sad and silent musings, re- 
signed Ills cliarge over this society, went to New York. 

Durinu' liis residence in that city, he occasionally jireacheil 
and jierfornied the oltices of tlie cliureh, in one of whicli he met 
his deatli. On returning from a funeral, as lie ascended the 
steps of his house, he fell down and expiied. His remains were 
entombed under the altar of St. George's Church, in the city of 
New York. His death occurred in 1780, at the age of fifty- 
nine.^ 

" Xext to Mr. "Winslow, we find the name of ^fr. Jose])h Clev- 
erly, who, if he was not one of the ministers of this church, was 
one of its fathers. Mr. Cleverly graduated from Harvard Col- 
lege in 173.3, and although never in holy orders, yet he served 
the spiritual interests of the church for many years, by reading 
prayers and sermons, and is called in the records, their teacher. 

" At a meeting on Easter Monday, 1784, the thanks of the 
church were voted to Mr, Cleverly for his past services. It is 
to be inferred from this, that his first term of service was the 
whole time between 1777 and 1784, a i)eriod of seven years. 

" Mr. Cleverly was a staunch churehman, and of unblemished 
reputation. He continued to otficiate, in the absence of regular 
clergymen, till extreme old age and decrepitude terminated his 
useful ministrations. He closeil his life at the age of eighty- 
nine, and was interred in the church cemetery." 

From this period the services were performed by clergymen 
Mini lay-ministers, who were selected by the church committee, 
and officiated for a single Sunday, or for a longer stated period. 
Of this number were the Kev. John Lynn 151ackburn, Hex. 
James I>. Howe, Kev. Calvin Wolcott, Kev. William Clark, E. 
!». Lippitt and Dr. S. H. Tyng. 

Tp to IH'2'2, the church was in an inanimate and lifeless con- 
dition. At this time the wardens of the society were very for- 

1. The following iiisi^riptiou is to be foiiml on liis tomb-stone : — " Here lies 
tlie mortal remains of a man whose virtues are reyistereii in the heart of every 
Episcopalian, a man wlio will be remembereil for the ^lcoocI deeds he has done to 
the house of his God aud to the offices thereof." 



256 



IJKMtiKU'S SO(MKTtKS, 



lunate ill siM'miiiL!,' (lie viilualilo sorvii'os of tl\o \\o\ . l)iMiJMmin 
CI.Mvk Culler, wlu) \\vU\ div iiu> services in Clirist (Muireli in l\I:iy 
of this ve;ir, nml cnnic licrc \o r('si(I(> tlu' .Iiily followlnu". lie 
was ordained Deacon l>y (lie IJijjflit \\v\. A. \". (Jriswold. Si'|it. 
IDtli, IS'2'J, and Priest, the ttilli of IMareli, IS'Jf). T\w lirsl ordi- 
iiMlion w .'is ill Iliis cliiircli, mid the socoiid in S(. Ann's ("liurcli, 
J.owelK it lieiiiiL;" more eonvt'iiiiMit for the l>islio|) to attend the 
servie»> iit that time and i>laee. Under Mr. (^itliM-'s reetorshi]> 
(he society riipidlv iiirrcasiMl in |>ros|H'iil y, and for the lirsl lime 
since its ors;aiii/ation, lu'came inde|n'ndcnt and sclf-su|i|>ortini;'. 
Some (d' the old conimnnic;inls retnnuMi and many new t';iinilies 
joined the socict\, niid in m;my r«'s|tccls il \v;is a new church. 
The nnmlicr oi fninilics ltclon;Miiu' lv> the socii'ty ;il ihis lime 
was scventy-i'inlil ; nnmlicr of cinninnnic:ints, sixty-eight, sixly- 
five of whom had lH>en added since his I.ahor o\' love lH\Li'an ; oin> 
hundred .iini eleven Impl isms lia\in>;' Ihhmi recorded in ihe mean 
lime. 

Iu'\ . iNlr. ('nller's l.iliois ;is reclor i^^^ this church hisU'd fiU' ihe 
hrief |icriod of ti\(' }ears. when he w;is e;illed away lo ;i l.aru'cr 
Held t>\' duty, ;is r(>c(or i\( S(. Ann's Chureh. iMdoklyii, New 
York. 

.\fler Ihe resi!j;n,'il ion i^i Mr. ("ntler. ihe chureh nu'.'iin icW inli> 
(hn-liiu'. and (•onlinned on willi \:iried success simih' o( ihe linu' 
by lay re.aders, and :il oiIum- shorl |HM'iods by I'ler^'yinen — unlil 
the l\ev. IMr. Uiirrouuhs was called lo seltle over the p.arisli, 
when il w as a<;";iin revived h\ ;i w aUtMiiii;;' a new interest in (he 
M|)is('o|>al service, and new and inllnenlial families joined the 
sociclv. !Mr. nnrron^hs w ;is succeedt'd by the l\»>\ . (di.arlcs II. 
IJrainard, w ho .actively and .arthaitlv iMilcrcd into the wtnk of ex- 
tending" the fruits of I'lpiseop.icy in town. His eceeiurieities 
howev«M\ not being ;i|>in-oveil by the |i.irish. he w;is dismissed. 
Mr. Ib;iinaid was succeeded by the devoni rector, the Kev. Heg- 
inald II. Ilowe, who, bv his nnlirin^' excrliiuis for the good o\' 
the society, soon b«>canu' :itt\>clionalely beloved by his |>arish and 
the town's |u>o|tU>. .\fli>r ;i sh(>rl ici'lorship of abou( four or 
live y«'ars. he had ;i call to b(>conie ri't'ttU' of a idiuri'li ;i( l.ong- 
Wt)od, Itrooklinc. Mass.achuseKs, which lu> aceeplcd. .and re- 
moved (heir in the spring of ISTT. The Kev. 'rii.iddeus A. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 257 

Snively of Huntington, L. I., having received a eall, accepted 
the rectorsliip of this society, and commenced liis labors with 
them April 1st, 1878. 



The first church by tlie Episcopal Society of this town was 
erected between 1725 and 1728, on land granted to the church 
by William and Benj. Vesey. It was located on School street, 
where Christ Church Cemetery now is. The church Avas built 
on the south-easterly part of this land and stood east and west. 
It was enlarged thirteen feet at the east end, in 1773, during the 
rectorship of the Rev. Mr. "Winslow, and two ncsV wings were 
added during Rev. Mr. Cutler's ministerial labors ; but this not 
proving sufficient to accommodate the increasing congregation, 
the question of erecting a new church was thoroughly canvassed 
and finally agreed upon. Mr. Apthorp, one of the old benefac- 
tors of the church, presented the society with a lot of land suffi- 
cient for the purpose, on the corner of Elm street and Quincy 
avenue. 

A fine commodious wooden church with a square tower, was 
built in 1832 on this site, which had four round holes in the 
belfry ; the main building was ornamented with large Gothic 
windows. 

On Saturday evening, Nov. 19th, 1859, this church was de- 
stroyed by fire — being the first church ever burned in town. Its 
bell was seriously missed by the citizens of South Quincy, as it 
was a favorite alarm bell in that part of the town, in case of fire. 
With untiring energy, the few friends of the society soon had 
another fine Gothic structure of stone erected on the ruins of the 
old church, and it was consecrated Sept. 13th, 18(30. 

On the morning of November 1st, 1873, went forth the un- 
welcome alarm, that the third church built by the Episcopal 
Society was on fire ; but with all the skill, energy and active 
exertions of the fire department, this fine structure was soon 
consumed by the fiery element and lay in ruins ; the rectory ad- 
joining the church, however, was saved without being much 
damaged. 

This disaster would have been enough to have discouraged 

34 



258 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

most other societies ; but having strong friends and being imbued 
with that great christian spirit tliat knows no failure, they were 
soon enabled to construct a suitable building for the jDromulga- 
tion of the noble principles of conservative christian philanthro- 
py — free and untrammeled by dogmatic theology. This fine and 
commodious stone church was completed in 1874, and opened 
for public worship in August of the same year ; making the third 
church erected on this site, and the fourth constructed since the 
organization of the society in this town. 

At this time the rectory was removed a few rods back, to 
another site that had recently been purchased for the purpose, 
and considerably enlarged. 

The fine mural tablet in commemoration of Dr. Miller, was at 
the burning of the church destroyed. A similar tablet was re- 
produced by the family, and again placed upon the walls of the 
church — a worthy monument in commemoration of the first 
rector of Christ Church in Quincy. 

Christ Church has a very long and honorable historic record. 
Among its communicants have been many of the most wealthy 
and influential citizens of the town ; especially was this the case 
of the old families now extinct in the parish, viz : — Apthorps, 
Borlands, Cleverlys, Millers, AYinslows, Vassalls,^ Stedmans, 
Cheesraans, Veseys, Marquands, Paines and Governor Shirley; 
some of whose children lie buried in the church cemetery, 

1. Mr. Leonard Vassall seems to have been an ardent believer in the Episco- 
pal Church, as in his will he states that in case his wife should renounce her 
religion, she should forfeit her riglit to her bequest. Mr. ^"assal owned, resided, 
and constructed the house now occupied, and in the possession of Hon. Charles 
F. Adams. His brother Lewis owned the fine estate now in the possession of 
Mr. James Edwards, on School street, on which he had constructed a beautiful 
residence, which some years since was removed to Water street, where it now 
stands. The indenture reads as follows : — 

" By certain articles of indenture before marriage with my present beloved 
wife, Pheba, I therein covenanted in case I died before her, either by deed duly 
executed or by my late will, to give and devise unto her the sum of two thou- 
sand pounds. New England currency, as by articles. Now for the faithful 
imrfovmance of this indenture, I hereby give and devise to her during her con- 
tinuing my widow and a professed member of the Episcopal Churcli of England 
as by law established, and no longer, the use, possession and improvement, of 
my dwelling liouse, orchard and garden, in Braintree, in the County of Suffolk, 
aforesaid, and the land thereto belonging ; I also give unto her forever the sum 




CHRIST CHURCH, tillXCY. ERECTKI) IX 1874. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 259 

Nearly all of the old families have passed away, and the com- 
municants of the present time are mostly new families to the 
society and the town ; and may Christ Church, at its next cen- 
tennial celebration, hold as honorable a jiosition in town as it 
did in the last, and that it will be in as hiojh a state of i)rosperity 
in 1927, as it was in 1827, when ])r. Cutler delivered liis century 
sermon in commemoration of the completion of the tinst century 
of Christ Cliurch in Quincy. 



UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. 



Universalism is a doctrine which its advocates claim to be of 
very ancient origin, and dates its existence back to the earliest 
christian writers, e. g. :— The Sibylline Oracles, A. D. 150. 

The origin of Universalism as a distinct religious sect, is 
more a feature of American than P^uropean society. The Rev. 
John Murray, about 1770, became the great apostle, originator 
and proj)agator of modeni Universalist doctrines, and from that 
time an organization lias sprung up which contains many able, 
learned and pious divines. 

In 1830, Charles P. Tirrell, Silas Leonard and John Chamber- 
lin, were desirous to establish a Universalist society in Quincy, 
but were unable to do so until 1831. Dr. Thomas Whittemore 
Avas engaged by the above-named ])ersons to enlighten the citi- 
zens of the town upon the religious principles of this sect. After 
considerable trouble they were able to procure the Town Hall 
for the purpose, and in May, 1830, Dr. Whittemore ]>reached his 
first sermon from the following text : — " For as concerning this 
sect, Ave know that everyAvhere it is spoken against," which soon 

of three thousand pounds in bills of credit on the Province aforesaid, instead of 
the two thousand pounds, and I likewise give unto her my chariot and best 
pair of couch horses, she herself to make choice of them, together with my sil- 
ver tea-kettle ; and also the use of my negro coachman named Pompey and his 
wife Fidelia, and the household goods and furniture of my house at Uraintree. 
If my wife discontinues to he my widow, or a professed member of the Episco- 
jtal Church of Kngland, as by law establislicd, tlien the i)roperty is to go to my 
daughter. June "24, 1737." 



260 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

led to the organization of this society. The remaining part of 
the year occasional sermons were preached by the Senior Bal- 
lon, Dr. Sylvanus Cobb, Paul Dean, Dr. John Brooks, Dr. Ben- 
jamin F. Whittemore and Sebastian Streeter. So well did this 
movement succeed that on the 10th of March, 1831, the follow- 
ing persons formed themselves into a religious society, under the 
name of the First Universalist Society in Quincy : — John Pray, 
Jedediah Adams, Abram Prescott, Levi B. Josephs, Charles L. 
Pierce, John A. Newcomb and twenty-three others. 

The first board of officers was as follows : — Silas Leonard, 
Moderator ; Levi B. Josephs, Clerk ; Alpheus Spear, Treasurer ; 
Silas Leonard, Abram Prescott and John Chamberlin, Parish 
Committee. 

March 14th, 1832, the society was incorporated, and during 
this month the Rev. William Morse of East Milton, was en- 
gaged to preach a part of the time. That year there was a 
strong desire on the part of its parishoners to build a church. 
A lot of land was purchased on the corner of Washington street 
and Elm place, and a church erected, which with the site cost 
the society 15,003.01, and was dedicated Dec. r2th, 1832.— 
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Morse, their pastor. In 
May, 1832, the church was organized with a membership of 
thirty-three persons ; but not continuing in that harmony and 
unity that is so necessary for success, Mr. Morse resigned his 
pastorate about the first of December, 1832. 

The society remained without a settled clergyman until the 
first of May, 1835, when the Rev. Daniel D. Smith was engaged 
to impart new life to the church. Mr. Smith, the next year, 
established a Sunday School. Under his brief ministration the 
parish was in a flourishing condition. Rev. Matthew IL Smith 
succeeded his brother in the pastorate, who, after a brief settle- 
ment, in the autumn of 1837, accepted a call at Haverhill. In 
the fall of 1837, the Rev. John Nicholls was settled over the 
society, and closed his brief pastorate after having been con- 
nected with the parish one year. After this, the church became 
somewhat disorganized. July 1st, 1839, the Rev. John Gregory 
was settled as minister over the society. He commenced his 
labors with that energy and enthusiasm which was peculiar to 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 261 

liini, ;ui(l Avas able Jan. 31st, 1841, to re-organize tlie clmrcli, 
with forty-nine members ; but tliis did not amount to much, as 
he entered strongly into the temperance agitation that was going 
like a tidal wave through the New England States at that time. 
This agitation of temperance created serious disaffection in the 
parish, and many of his most influential parishoners left the 
society, no more to return. This finally caused Mr. Gregory to 
close his ministration with the church in the spring of 1843. 

Mr. Gregory was the first, and we believe, the only clergyman 
that has ever represented the town in the State Legislature ; the 
reason being perhaps, that our citizens think ministers more 
adapted to expound the divine laws, than to make civil. 

At the close of Mr. Gregory's ministerial duties the society 
was financially embarrassed, and the remaining members of the 
parish much disheartened ; but through the energetic and benev- 
olent exertions of a few of its most influential members, they 
were soon relieved from their pecuniary difliculties. 

April 1st, 1844, the Rev. S. A. Davis was selected as their pas- 
tor, and by judicious management, he was able in a short time 
to allay the animosities of the parish, and establish peace and 
harmony in the society. His successor was the Ilev. J. C. Wal- 
do, who supplied the pulpit about a year. In the spring of 1847, 
the Rev. W. W. Dean was engaged to settle over the parish, 
and after a peaceful pastorate of between seven and eight years, 
he closed his labor here Oct, 1st, 1855. Mr. Dean was a law- 
yer by profession, before assuming the ministry. While in 
Quincy, he was a strong friend of education in the common 
school, and for some years an active member of the school board. 
Mr. Dean, also, dui'ing his ministration here, revived the char- 
ter of the Rural Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, which had 
been surrendered in anti-masonic times. 

The most good and godly man to assume charge of the soci- 
ety, was the Rev. Luther Rice, who was settled Feb. 1st, 1856, 
and resigned his charge over the ])arish in August, 1858. 

Mr. Rice was succeeded by the Rev. Quincy Whitney, who 
was settled in October, 1858, and relinquished his laTjors over 
the parish, April 1st, 1860. July 1st, 1860, the Rev. Albert 
Tyler was selected as their clergyman, and resigned his jiastorate 



262 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

ill the spring of 1861, In May, 1861, the Rev. J. G. B. Heath 
was called to take charge of the society, and after a peace- 
ful pastorate of about four years, resigned liis ministerial duties 
here, April 1st, 1865, and went to Xew York city. Mr. Heath, 
while in Quincy, was much interested in the welfare of our 
schools, and a valuable member of the school committee. . In 
July, following Mr. Heath's resignation, the Rev. S. T. Aldrich 
was called to take charge of the parish, and continued its 
pastor until the spring of 1868. He was succeeded in June, 
1868, by the Rev. Herman Bisbee, who remained in charge of 
the society until April, 1869, when he resigned and entered 
upon a larger field of duty in the West. During his labors here 
the meeting-house was improved in its interior arrangements. 

The Rev. G. W. Skinner succeeded Mr. Bisbee as clergyman 
over the society, and resigned his parochial duties in July, 1871. 

April 1st, 1872, the Rev. G. "W. Whitney was settled over 
this parish and continued its pastor until April 1st, 1878, when 
he accepted a call to take charge of a large and prosperoxis soci- 
ety at Augusta, Maine. During his stay in Quincy the parish 
was able to construct a fine and commodious parsonage, and 
the society was in a flourishing and prosperous condition. 

The church now contains a membership of about seventy 
persons, the Sunday School one hundred and eighty-seven, and 
the congregation more than one hundred and twenty-five fam- 
ilies and parts of families. 

The following persons are now the ofiicers of the society, viz : 
Parish Committee, Dr. J. W. Small, Richard G. Elliott and 
Chas. H. S. NewcoTub ; Treasurer, Urbane Cudworth, Jr.; Clerk, 
John W. Moore ; Superintendent of the Sunday School, John O. 
Hall. May peace and harmony ever continue within its walls. 



EVANGELICAL COXGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



. This denomination of christians is a branch of the old historic 
church of Xew England, Avhich was for two centuries the estab- 
lished religion through all the colonial and i)rovincial periods, 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 263 

as well as nearly half a century after the formation of the United 
States Government, and among its noted clerirymen have been 
found some of the most eminent and profound theological di- 
vines and scholars in New England. 

. This church was established in Quincy, between the years 
1831 and '32, by a few families who seceded from the Episcopal 
Society, and some others who M-ere believers in this metliod of 
worship. 

This is not, as many suppose, the first organized Congregation- 
al society in this town. 

The first Congregational church formed in Quincy, dates its 
existence back as a distinct denomination, to the year 1639, and 
continued as such until 1750, when under the ministration of the 
Rev. Lemuel Brient, after a long and heated controversy with 
the neighboring churches, and in council, changed its creed from 
Trinitarian to Unitarian, and is still called the First Church. 
From that time to 1831, or for nearly a century, there was no 
Calvinistic organized society in the North Precinct of Braintree, 
now called Quincy. 

The faithful few that had convened together for the purpose 
of disseminating the religious sentiments embodied in Congre- 
gationalism, engaged the Town Hall, and selected Dr. Lyman 
Beecher to deliver a course of lectures to them ; this proving so 
ausj)icious, that in IMarch, 1832, they procured a smaller hall and 
held regular Sabbath services. 

Ai)ril 5th, 1832, they formed themselves into a religious soci- 
ety, and called the Rev. T. Field to preach to them, whose labors 
were so successful, that they had an Ecclesiastical council con- 
vened, Aug. 16th, 1832. At this council they adopted the con- 
fession of faith and covenant, received their solemn charge, and 
were oflicially constituted a Congregational Church, entitled to 
all the rights and privileges of the association. They selected as 
their name the Evangelical Congregational Church of Quincy. 
At this time the membership consisted of twenty-one persons — 
five males and sixteen fein:iles. 

The first two years, they were without a pastor. The judpit 
was supplied for one year and a half by the Kev. T. Field ; ho 
being followed by the Rev. Stephen S. Smith, who continual to 



264 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

supply the pulpit for the next six months. August 4th, 1834, 
this young society called for its first j^astor the Kev. William M. 
Cornell, who accepted this call, and was installed August 20th, 

1834, as pastor of the church. 

Mr. Cornell constructed a house on School street, and also ^ 
building adjoining for a school house, in which he established a 
private school, that was quite popular for a time. During his 
ministration, Mr. Cornell went outside of his parochial duties; 
making reflections upon the religious character of the town, 
which so incensed the citizens, that a j^ublic meeting was called 
to investigate the matter. The meeting assembled in August, 

1835, and after a candid consideration of the subject, a commit- 
tee of eleven of the most influential citizens were chosen to 
make inquiries into the alleged assertions, and report at an ad- 
journed meeting. The following jjersons were chosen as this 
committee : — Hon. John Q. Adams, Thomas Greenleaf, Josiah 
Brigham, E. Smith, Noah Curtis, Jedediah Adams, Jedediah 
Hollis, George W. Beal, Ebenezer Bent, Ebeuezer Jewett and 
Frederick Hardwick. 

At the adjourned meeting, the committee reported through 
the Hon. John Q. Adams, their chairman, that "the statement 
made by the Rev. Wm. M. Coi'uell gravely affected the moral 
and religious character of the town of Quincy, and was wholly 
destitute of truth and reasonable foundation." 

This report was signed by each of the committee, accepted 
by the town, and by them ordered to be recorded on the tOAvn 
records. Those who are desirous of perusing this unhajipy 
matter can be gratified by reading the "Columbian Centinel,'' 
"Daily Advertiser," "Patriot" and "Trumpet," newspapers of 
the day; alsa, a pamphlet published at the time, containing the 
whole of the unhappy controversy. 

Rev. Mr. Cornell, after a pastorate of about five years, closed 
his connection with the parish, July 8th, 1839. From this time 
until Jan. 28th, 1841, the society was witho'ut a clergyman. In 
the mean time the pvdpit was supplied by various ministers. 

In 1841, the Rev. William Allen received a unanimous call, 
which he accepted, and was immediately installed as its pastor. 
His ministration over the church Avas attended with harmony 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 265 

and peace, and after a pastorate of about eight years, it was 
terminated Aug. 28th, 1849. During his parochial ministration 
the churcli was enhirged by the addition of twenty pews. The 
Kev. Xolson Chirk succeeded Mr. Allen, and Avas installed over 
the churcli Jan. 2d, 1850. During his faithful and laborious 
ministration an unha]ij)y controversy arose, Avhich resulted in the 
meeting-house being closed ngainst him, but the larger portion 
of the society followed their able pastor to the Town Hall, 
where they worshipped for some time. His ministration over 
the parish continued about nine years, terminating in 1859. 

The Rev. Mr. Thayer followed Mr. Clark, and preached here 
several months, but was not ordained. 

Tlie Rev. Edward P. Thwing was ordained Nov. 19th, 1862, 
and after a pastorate of about five years, was dismissed June 
24th, 1867. 

Mr. Thwing was succeeded in his ministerial office by the Rev. 
James E. Hall, who, having accepted a call from tlie society, 
was installed April 16th, 1868, and after a ministration of about 
five years, was dismissed Feb. 4th, 1873. 

On the 16th of June, 1874, the Rev. Edward Norton, the pres- 
ent pastor, Avas installed, and under his charge the society has 
been in a very prosperous condition. The Sunday School num- 
bers on its roll at tlie present time, three hundred members. 



The first meeting-house Avas erected on the corner of Canal 
and Hancock streets, and is now used by the town as a ])ublic 
library. A short time after the society relinquished holding 
divine services within its old and familiar walls, the steeple and 
bell Avere taken doAvn . 

While the society Avas under the ministration of Mr. Hall, 
they felt the need of a better and more commodious church, and 
though the enterprise at first suggestion seemed formidable, yet 
they did not lack courage to meet the demand. The pastor and 
people worked resolutely to overcome the emergencies and about 
the first of June, 1870, the present house of Avorship, on the 
corner of Hancock and Cliestnut streets, Avas framed and raised. 
The house is pleasantly located and is very convenient and com- 
modious. Tlie building is of Gothic architecture, constructed of 

35 



266 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

wood. The effort has been not to disguise its material by imi- 
tating stone constructions — an absurd custom too often practised 
by American architects. The roof and spire are banded with 
purple and green slate. The small tower at the chapel entrance 
is 50 feet high — that upon the main building is 123 feet. In this 
tower there is j^laced a bell weighing 1800 pounds, pitched in 
the key of F, and of a very fine tone. 

The cost of building and land was about $36,000. Within 
three years after the completion of the church the society was 
entirely free from debt. It was dedicated July 19th, 1871. 



The first church organized at Wollaston Heights was a union 
society for religious purposes. They selected a hall in the Wol- 
laston Hotel as their place of worship, and Sept. 11th, 1870, the 
first sermon was delivered before them by the Rev. Mr. Davis of 
Hyde Park, from Kings i : 7. As a distinctive religious sect, 
the Baptist was the first society organized here, but composed of 
communicants of other sects. The Congregational element wor- 
shipping with them, not agreeing with their theological tenets 
on the questions of baptism and close communion, concluded to 
establish a church more in accordance with their distinctive 
religion. The first action for the purpose of organizing a Con- 
gregational church was taken Sept. 23d, 1874, and on the 7tli 
of October following, articles of faitli and church polity were 
agreed upon. The first meeting of a religious nature was a 
prayer meeting held about the 16th of April, 1875, at tlie house 
of Mr. J. P. Haynes. These meetings continued to be held at 
various houses for about a year, or until their meeting-house was 
erected. For several weeks, however, before the completion of 
this edifice, their prayer meetings were held in the vestry of the 
church. The Wollaston Land Association granted them tlie 
pleasant site upon which their meeting-house is constructed. 
By the activity of their building committee, they were soon 
able to complete their fine house for religious worship. An 
Ecclesiastical council met on the afternoon of May Stb, 1876, 
and proceeded to recognize and regularly form them as a relig- 
ious body. The addresses on this occasion were delivered by 
the Rev. Messrs. Longworthy and Plumb, together with Deacon 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 267 

Farnsworth and the Rev. Mr. Beiler of the Methodist Church. 
Mr. A. W. Sprague received the right hand of fellowship in 
behalf of the society. In the evening of the same day, the 
church was dedicated. Tlie sermon was preached by the Rev. 
Mr. Doe, of Wisconsin, from tlie text found in Hebrew ii. : 4 : — 
" By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than 
Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God 
testifying of his gifts; and by it — he being dead, yet speaketh." 
This was the first sermon ever preached to this society. The 
church at this time consisted of twenty-one members. For sev- 
eral weeks the pulpit was supplied by different clergymen, when 
on the 18th of June, 1876, Dr. F. N. Zabriskie^ their present 
luinistei*, who was on a visit to Cambridge from Saybrook, Con- 
necticut, was called to supply the sacred desk. His preaching 
was so acceptable to them that they extended a call to him to 
become their pastor, which call was accepted Aug, 8th, and he 
was installed Oct. 19th, of the same year, although his official 
connection with this church began Sept. 15th, 1876. He still 
continues to preach his liberal theology to this infant church : — 
" We have sought to build up here no mean sectarian organiza- 
tion. We sincerely desire, and have striven to open, a taber- 
nacle lofty as the cross and broad as the gospel." This church 
began with twenty-one members, but at the present time is con- 
stituted of more than twice that number. The Sabbath School 
was organized Jan. 16th, 1876, and is in a flourishing condition. 
The society has been admitted a member of the Suffolk South 
Conference. 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



The Methodist Episcopal Church, the most numerous of any 
one of the Protestant denominations of the United States, had 
its humble origin in New York, about 1766, from a small com- 
pany of Irish emigrants who arrived there a short time previous. 
The first-class reader and local preacher was Philip Embury, 
one of this little band of christian emigrants. 



268 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

From this small beginning soon followed those eminent pio- 
neers of American Methodism, — Asbury, Coke, Whatcoat, Gar- 
rettson, Lee, and numerous other shining lights, who laid the 
foundation of tlie fabric upon Avliich this great and numerous 
.denomination of liberal theology has been built in flie United 
States. 

It was several years after that before this sect began its labors 
in New England, Avhicli Avas about 1790 ; when the first pioneer 
of New England Methodism, the Rev. Jesse Lee, on that pleas- 
ant, serene and memorable July afternoon, took his stand upon 
an ordinary table, placed under the branches of the venerable 
old ehn tree that was once the glory of Boston Common — here, 
an utter stranger without friends or assistance, he commenced 
liis services by reading a hymn and making a fervent prayer to 
four persons, but before he had finished proclaiming the great 
truths of Methodism, his audience had increased to three thou- 
sand. 

It was not until about 1838 that a Methodist society was 
organized in this town, by several persons who had settled at 
Quincy Point and Germantown, from the Cape towns, for the 
purpose of carrying on the fish business. After several pre- 
liminary meetings, they selected a site for their meeting-house 
at the corner of Washington and South streets. This churcli 
was soon erected, and Avas dedicated July lOtb, 1838, by the 
noted Fatlier E. T. Taylor, of tlie old North End Bethel, 
located at the east side of North square, Boston. It soon came 
under the jurisdiction of the New England Conference. 

From tlae circumstance of its having been for a long time the 
only church located at the Point village, (until recently a Bap- 
tist society has been formed there,) whose inhabitants Avere 
made up of persons of various religious beliefs, it has at times 
been somcAvhat of an independent church — sometimes Avithin the 
limits of the conference, and at other periods out of its jurisdic- 
tion. At the present time, the pulpit, by the desire of its Avor- 
shippers, is supplied by a clergyman of tlu^ Congregational order, 
Eev. Mr. Drake. 

While under the charge of the IMethodist Conference, tliis 
society has had located among them many eminent christians of 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 269 

this persuasion ; among whom, were the well-known Rev. John 
T. Burrell and Rev. Samuel Kelley; the latter has recently 
done much to increase the usefulness of Methodism in this town. 
About 1844, Charles A. Cummings, John Andrews, Samuel 
Higgins and others, seceded from the Point church, and pur- 
chased a site for a Methodist church at the corner of Sea and 
Canal streets, (now Chestnut and Canal streets.) Upon this site 
they had a small chapel built, which was dedicated November 
20th, 1844, and came under the jurisdiction of the Providence 
Conference. 

The Rev. J. C. Goodridge was the first pastor, who preached 
here from November, 1844, to June, 1845, and was succeeded by 
the Rev. Samuei Fox, whose ministerial labors continued two 
years, or from 1845 to 1847, which is the extent of time that 
their clergymen are allowed to remain in one place, excepting 
the superannuated ministers, who are allowed to remain a longer 
period. 

Rev. Mr. Fox Avas followed by the Rev. Anser B. Wheeler, 
who preached here from 1847 to 1849. In 1849, Rev. J. B. 
Gould commenced his services with this feeble society, and 
appears to have been the last minister located here. In a short 
time the faithful few were obliged to dissolve, for the want of 
financial support. For some years the meeting-house remained 
closed. About 1864, Mi-. Clift Rogers purchased this estate, and 
Avas instrumental in having a Spiritualist church established 
here. In the spring of 1876, this building was purchased by the 
Quincy Reforni Club, a temjjerance organization, and large ad- 
ditions Avere made to it, at a cost of seven or eight thousand 
dollars, (including the interior embellishments,) and Avas ded- 
icated Aug. 31st, 1876, under the name of "Faxon Hall," and 
is still in use by the club. 

In 1872, a Methodist society was organized in West Quincy, 
and through the untiring exertions of Rev. Samuel Kelley, former 
pastor of the Methodist Church at Quincy Point, and noAV chaj)- 
lain of the National Sailors' Tlome, (avIio has done more to 
disseminate the doctrines of this sect in Quincy than any other 
]>erson,) a considerable sum of money Avas collected tOAvards the 
erection of a church, Avhich stands a short distance off Ceme- 



270 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

tery street. In the absence of a located minister over this church 
Mr. Kelley supplies the pulpit at the present time. 

The Methodist Society at Wollaston Heights was organized 
in 1873, and held their services for nearly a year in the school- 
house, or until their chapel on Beale street was completed, with 
Rev. S. L. Beiler as pastor. In the year 1877, the conference 
left the pulj^it to be supplied. 

Rev. Mark Trafton, who resides there, occasionally supplies 
the sacred desk; in his absence a part of the summer a Sweden- 
borgian clergyman has preached to the congregation. At the 
present time the Methodist churches of this town are without 
settled jDastors. ^ 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



The first religion brought to New England by civilized people, 
was the Catholic, which was as early as 1609, eleven years before 
the Pui'itans landed on Plymouth rock. The location selected 
by the two French Jesuit Fathers, Rev. Peter Biard, a native of 
Grenoble, and Father Enemond Masse, was the Neutral island 
in Schoodic river. Here they erected a chapel, which in all 
probability was the first church constructed in New England. 
This location not proving a desirable one, they in a short time 
removed this mission to Mount Desert island, at the mouth of 
Penobscot river; this occurred about the years 1612-13, It was 
not many years before this religious station was obliged to be 
given up ; the settlers being driven away by the English.^ — 
Afterwards Father Druillettes, and some years later, Father 

1. At this time Sir Thomas Dale, the Governor of Virginia, fitted out an 
expedition to dislodge the French from Acadia. "Captain Argall was ap- 
pointed to the command of the force destined for this purpose, which consisted 
of three armed vessels. Father Biard, glad of an opportunity to be revenged of 
Biencourt, offered to pilot the vessels to the basin of Port Eoyal ; and Argall, 
having reached the Bay of Fundy, entered the harbor and landed forty men. 
A gun was fired from the battery, as a signal to the people who were abroad, 
but he advanced with such rapidity that he found the fort abandoned, and im- 
mediately took possession of it. He then sailed up the river Laquille with his 
boats, where he viewed their fields, barns and mills. Tliese he spared, but on 
his return, he destroyed the fort and defaced the arms of the King of France. 



BBLIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 271 

Rale, revived and attempted to carry on this field of christian 
labor, and their efforts were attended witli some degree of suc- 
cess ; but the Indian wars and other difficulties interrupted and 
laid waste their Indian missions after long years of suffering and 
persecution. In 1713, Governor Dudley made an effort to pros- 
elyte the Abnaki tribe, by offering to rebuild their church that 
had been burnt, if they would renounce their religion and receive 
a Protestant minister instead of a Catholic "blackgown." The 
noble reply of the Indians to Governor Dudley in his attempt to 
have them change their creed by bribery, is worthy of all com- 
mendation.^ Owing to the Province wars, and the French loss 

Bieucourt was at this time surveying the country at a distance, but being called 
home, he requested a conference with the English commander. They met in a 
meadow, with a few of their followers. After an ineffectual assertion of rights 
equally claimed by both, Biencourt proposed, if he could obtain protection from 
the Crown of England and get the obnoxious Jesuit in his possession, to divide 
the fiir trade and disclose the mines of the country. But Argall refused ' to 
make any treaty, alleging that his orders were only to dispossess him, and 
threatening if he should find him there again, to consider him as an enemj-. 
Whilst they were in conference, one of the savages came up to them, and in 
broken French, with suitable gestures, endeavored to mediate a peace between 
them, wondering that persons, who appeared to him to be of one nation, should 
make war on each other. This affecting incident served to put both of them in 
a good humor. After Argall' s departure, some of the Frenchmen dispersed them- 
selves in the woods, and mixed with the savages ; others went to the river St. 
Lawrence, and strengthened the settlement which Champlain had made there; 
the rest were carried to England, and reclaimed by the French Ambassador. 
Thus terminated the first effective settlement in North America, after an exist- 
ence of eight years." — Halliburton's History of Nova Scotia, Vol. I, p. lij. 

1. " When the Abiuiki orator heard this singular offer, with great dignity he 
arose and said, ' You were here first and saw me a long time before the French 
governors; but neither you nor your nnnisters sjjoke to me of prayer or the 
Great Spirit. You saw my furs, my beavers and moo.se skins, and of these only 
did you think then. But when the French black(/otcn came, though I was 
loaded with furs, he disdained to look at them. He sjjoke to me of the Great 
Spirit of Heaven and Hell, of the prayer which is the only way to reach 
Heaven. I heard him, and was delighted with his words. At last, the prayer 
pleased me; I asked to be instructed, and was finally baptized. Thus have the 
French acted. Had you spoken of the i)rayer, (prayer with the Indians was 
synonymous with faith) as soon as we met, I should now be so luihappy as to 
pray like you, for I could not have told whether your prayers were good or bad. 
Now I hold to the prayer of the French— I agree to it; I shall be faithful to it, 
even until the earth is destroyed. Keep your men, and your gold, and your 
ministers; I will go to my French fathers.' " 



272 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, 

of their American possessions, these French and Indian settle- 
ments came to an end.^ 

The poet Longfellow has related the persecutions and suf- 
ferings of the poor Catholics in his sad story of the Acadian 
heroine, " Evangeline." In Massachusetts, even up to the Rev- 
olutionary War, Catholicity Avas held in great contempt; the 
Pope was frequently burnt in effigy, and so much so had this 
become the practice in the army, that General Washington, on 
his arrival at the camp at Cambridge, was obliged to issue the 
following order, which speaks for itself : — " Nov. 5. As the 
Commander-in-Chief has been apprised of a design formed for 
the observance of that ridiculous and childish custom of burning 
the effigy of the Pope, he cannot help expressing his surprise 
that there should be officers and soldiers in the army so void of 
common sense, as not to see the impropriety of such a step at 
this juncture; at a time when we are soliciting, and have really 
obtained the friendship and alliance of the people of Canada, 
whom we ought to consider as brethren embarked in the same 
cause — the defense of the general liberty of America. At this 
juncture and under such circumstances, to be insulting their 
religion is so monstrous as not to be suffered or excused; indeed, 
instead of offering the most remote insult, it is our duty to ad- 
dress public thanks to these, our brethren, as to them we are so 
much indebted for every late happy success over the common 
enemy in Canada." — Sparks' Washington Works, Vol. Ill, p. 144. 

At the close of the Revolutionary War, a Chaplain of the 
French Navy, by the name of Claude Florent Bouchard de la 
Porterie, remained in Boston and privately celebrated mass. 
His stay, however, was of short duration ; he was followed by 
the Rev. Louis Rousselet, who was soon succeeded by the Rev. 
John Thayer, '-^ the first native of New England, (being a descend- 

1. See Halliburton's History of Nova Scotia, Vol. I, p. 176; also, Abbe Ray- 
ual, Vol. 5, pp. 278 to L'86, inclusive, Edinburgh Edition. 

2. The Rev. John Thayer was born in Boston, but descended from Old 
Braintree through Cornelius Thayer, his father. Mr. Thayer was educated for 
the church, and became a Congregational clergyman. Among his first duties 
as a minister was holding the position of chaplain to Governor Hancock. At 
this time he saj's, " Having a secret inclination to travel, I determined to take a 
European tour, to learn the languages which are most in use, and to acquire a 



KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. '273 

ant of old Bi-caiiitree,) converted to Catholicity. While travel in u* 
in Rome he became a convert, and was admitted into the church 
in INIay, 1783, and prohably was the tirst Catholic Priest who 

knowledge of the constitution of the States— of the manners, customs, laws and 
governments of the principal nations, in order to gain by this political knowl- 
edge a great consequence in my country, and thus become more useful to it. 
Such were my huniau views, without the least suspicion of tlie secret designs 
of Providence, which was preparing for me more jirecious advantages." In 
17S1, he sailed for France, and from there he journeyed on to Kome, where he 
might become more familiar with the manners and customs of this classic land. 
Mr. Thayer had been educated in the religion of the Puritans. His early edu- 
cation caused him to uourisJi a strong and bitter hatred to all questions con- 
nected with Catholicity, as well as to all classes and nations, that had embraced 
these theological views; with all this animosity against this doctrine, he entered 
Rome. The cordiality by which he was received, soon softened his religious prej- 
udices. After a candid and prayerful investigation of the principles and doctrines 
of this religion, its pure refulgent light dawned in upon his anxious soul, and 
removed all doubt as to his future dutj'. From this time he renounced Protes- 
tantism, and became a zealous advocate of Catholicity. At the sacred fount of 
the church at Rome, INIr. Thayer was baptized, received holy orders, and 
was admitted into this church of Christ in Maj', 1783. On leaving Rome, he 
returned to Paris, where he immediately entered the famous seminary of St. 
Sulpice. Here in Paris, after several years of studj' in gaining a more thor- 
ough knowledge of the theology of the Catholic faith, he was ordained and 
received the full fellowshii) of the priesthood, and was the tirst Puritan clergy- 
man convert to the Romish Church. 

The following letter, written to a friend after the arrival of Mr. Thayer in 
Hostou, shows the cordiality with which he was received on his return: — 

" My Dear Fuiend: — I reached Boston on the 4th of January last, and have 
everywhere been received with the most flattering attention. My own relatives 
expressed the greatest joy at my return. The Governor of the State, who.se 
chaplain I formerly was, has promised to do all in his power to forward my 
views, and favor the work for which I have been sent to Roston, I have 
received nothing but kindness and attention from the ministers of the town. 
Many of them have visited me and evinced a degree of cordiality whitdi I had 
little reason to expect. The officers of the Custom House have also carried 
their politeness so far as to be unwilling to take anything for my large boxes, 
which I had procured from France and England, having looked upon their con- 
tents as things designed for the church. 

"On the tirst Sunday after my arrival, I announced the word of God, and all 
flocked in crowds to hear me. A great degree of curiosity is manifested to 
become acquainted with our belief, and the free toleration allowed here has 
enabled me to enter into a full expo.sition of it. Rut I was not long in a condi- 
tion to satisfy the curiosity and eag(!raess of the i)eople of lioston. 1 hacl been 
only a fortnight in the town when it pleased Almighty God to affiict me with a 
sickness that kei)t me confined to my bed for a mouth. The danger a^ipeared 

36 



274 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

publicly oolobratod mass in the little Froiu'h llu>2,uoiiot Churoli, 
tluMi in School stroot. Boston, which was ivniovod years auo. It 
stood about where the building numbering U>, 18 aiul '10 now 

to me so serious, on one occasion, that I request4?d tlie lioly vaticiini of a Fivnoh 
clergyman, with whom I am associated in the work of the Tx)rd and of his 
church. My health was restored by degrees, and as soon as I had received suf- 
ficient strength. T availed myself of the privilege allowed me to celebrate n>ass 
in my chanibor. When my health was sullioiontly restored. I resumed my 
functions of preaching, confessing, and visitiuc tlie few sheep that oouii>ose<l 
my little tlock. 

"On every occasion the Protestants evince the same eagerness to come and 
hear me, but they content themselves with that. The indifference and philoso- 
phy which prevails here as much as anywhere else, are obstacles to the fruit of 
preaching which is exceedingly ditticnlt to remove — obstacles, however, which 
do not in the least discourage me. I have had the pleasure of receiving a few 
recantations, and our dear Xeophytes afford me gi-eat consolation by the sanc- 
tity of their lives. About one hundred Catholics, consisting of French. Irish 
and Americans, are what constitutes, at present, our church. About a dozen 
of them attend mass daily. I am engaged in instructing a few Protestants 
whom 1 hope to restore shortly to our common mother. I recommend our mis- 
sion most earnestly to your prayers, for we are in want of laborers for the culti- 
vation of this immense tield which has been so long abandoned in these United 
States." (Signed.) Thayer, Boston, July 17th, 17!'0. 

" Shortly after the arrival of Father Matignon, Mr. Thayer entered upon his 
New England mission, where he was very successful in his labors, until called 
by the bishop to enter upon a more important sphere of duty, in the State of 
Kentucky. ^Vlule here he matured his i>lans to found a convent in his native 
city of Hoston. In ]80;\ Mr. Thayer proceeiled to Europe for this purpose. 
After having travelled some years in soliciting aid for this project, he was 
enabled to establish a fund of eight or ten thousand dollars for it. In ISll, he 
took up his permanent residence in Limerick, Irelaiul, where he acipiirod uuiny 
ardent and genial friends, among whom was Mr. James Kyan, whose two pious 
daughters came to Boston and entered the I isuline Convent of Three Kivers. 
In 1S18, after the expiration of their uoviceship. they began their noble labors 
in the convent which had been prepared adjoining the Cathedral of the Holy 
Cross, under Bishop Cheverus. Sisters Jlary .lo.-icph and 31ary Magdalen, as 
they were called, were the pioneers of this institution. The Ursuliuos removed 
to tlieir new convent on Mount Benedict, Charlestown, in 1S1.'7. ilr. Thayer, 
in the early part of 181,"), was taken sick in Limerick, where he died. Though 
among strangers, his last moments were consoled by the affections and tender 
care of his devout spiritual followers. ^Ir. Thayer was iu>t a brilliant preacher, 
but was better adairted to controversy; this being one rea.-^on why he was called 
to so many extensive liclds of labor. Subsciiuent to the Kevolutioiuxry War, 
Catholic literature began in controversy, and for many years it was their great 
and important weapon of defence. The Hcv. dolui Tli.iycr was the ihanipion 
and originator of this home literatui"e. " 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 275 

Stands. This was llie first church occupied by the Catholics of 
Boston.^ 

On the arrival of Dr. Matignon in Boston, Aug. 20th, 1792, 
Father Thayer was somewhat relieved of his arduous duties; 
enabling hini to extend his field of usefulness, by visiting nearly 
all the large towns and villages in New England, wlien many 
converts were made to Catholicity. In 1799, the Kight Rev. 
Bishop Carroll of Baltimore, (at this time there was but one 
bishop for all the United States,) desiring some one to open the 
important field of religious labor in the State of Kentucky, se- 
lected Father Thayer for the purpose, on account of his adapta- 
bility and ardent zeal in missionary Avork. While in Kentucky, 

1. In Mr. Drake's old landmarks of Boston we find the following in refer- 
ence to this old church : — 

"Just before you come to where the Universalist Church formerly stood, 
ascending School street towards Tremont street, was the little church of the 
French Hu,<;uenots, of Boston. This was the church of the Faneuils, Baudoius, 
Sigourneys, Boutineans and Johonnots. The church was built of hrick about 
the year 1704; was very small, and for a long time its erection was opposed by 
the town. Before building, the French occupied one of the school-houses. 
Queen Ann presented a large folio bible to this church, which afterwards fell 
into the pos.session of Mather Byles; Andrew Faueuil gave in his will three 
pieces of plate for coninmnion and baptism, besides his warehouse in Kings St. 
Peirre Daille, the first minister, died in 1715, and was succeeded by Le Mecier. 
* * * After the dissolution of the society, the house of the 

French Church fell into the hands of the Twelfth Congregational Society, 
which arose during the excitement caused by the coming of Whitefield. Mr. 
Crosswell was the pastor — dying in 1785, when the house passed to the Roman 
Catholics. Mass was celebrated in the cliarch in November, 1788. It was re- 
moved in 1802." It is singular enough that the Huguenots who Avorshipped in 
this church, and who had fled from Catholic persecution, should have fallen 
into the hands of the Romish Church. On the destruction of this church, they 
purchased a site on Franklin street, and through the efforts of Rev. Father 
Matignon, who came to Boston in 17!i-, and of the Rev. John Cheverus, erected 
the Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross, in 1803. "Bishop Cheverus, afterward 
Cardinal, was sincerely- beloved in Boston, by the Protestants and Catholics 
alike. Otis and Quincy were his friends. He took a deep interest in the heated 
controversy that ensued over the treaty negotiated with Great Britain, by Wash- 
ington, known as Jay's Treaty. On this question, Harrison Gray Otis came 
before the people of Boston for the first time, in a public speech, and the good 
bi.shop was so charmed with the brilliant oratory of the speaker, that he threw 
liis arms around Mr. Otis, and exclaimed, while the tears ran down his face: — 
' Future generations, young man, will rise and call theo blessed.' " 



276 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

the idea occurred to him, that one subject of great importance 
had been omitted in promulgating and establishing Catholicity 
in the United States ; and that was, the construction of a con- 
vent for young Catholic females for their christian education. 
So firmly had this idea become impressed on his mind, that he 
relinquished his ministrations in Kentucky, and went to Europe 
for the purpose of soliciting means for this noble institution, 
where he procured eight or ten thousand dollars. From the 
proceeds of this fund, under the direction of Right Rev. Dr. 
Cheverus, (to whose charge the design and construction was 
left by Mr. Thayer at the time of his death,) a convent was 
erected, near and in connection with the Cathedral of the Holy 
Cross on Franklin street, Boston. This convent was removed to 
the ill-fated one on Mount Benedict, Charlestown, Mass., in 
March, 1827. So Father Thayer, after all the ridicule and con- 
tumacy that had been thrown out against the idea of erecting 
such an institution in the State, was by his untiring exertions, 
successful in accomplishing the object, of all others which he 
most desired ; and to him must be attributed the honor of being 
its worthy founder. Fortunately he did not live to be pained 
by seeing this institution .so near his heart, fall a victim to the 
incendiary's torch by the prejudice and bigotry of his own coun- 
trymen, on the 11th of August, 1834. 

As far as we have been able to learn, the first mass celebrated 
in (Juincy, was in the old Crane house, on Common street, in 
1828 ; this estate now being in the ])Ossession of Mr. John Fal- 
len. Father French of Eastport, State of Maine, officiated on 
this occasion. At various times mass was celebrated in the old 
long house, (so called,) which Avas located on Adams street, a 
short distance north-east of Eaton's bridge. 

About 1839-40, occasional mass was celebi-ated by Father T. 
Fitzsimmons of South Boston, in the old West District school- 
house, from which they were expelled by those persons of the 
district Avho were opposed to Catholicity ; .but, after talking the 
matter over Avith those Mdio had objected to their Avorshipping 
there, reconciliation Avas effected and services were resumed 
again in the old school-house, AAdiere they remained until the 
erection and dedication of the St. Mary's Church, on Cemetery 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. ZU 

street. This society being now orgnnizecl, and their meeting- 
house built, Father Fitzsimmons first began religious services in it 
in the fall of 1842. He was succeeded by Father John O'l^cirne 
in 1843, who remained with them about one year, or until 1844, 
when the bishop appointed him to take charge of a parish in 
Roxbury Highlands. After tlie removal of Father O'Beirne, the 
Rev. Bernard Carraher was appointed his successor over the St. 
Mary's, July 27th, 1845, and was tlie first resident priest. After 
remaining here a few years he received his dismission, and Fath- 
er Fitzsimmons was recalled to officiate over this church, Avhere 
he remained three or four months; being succeeded by Father 
Rodden, who took charge of this extensive mission in December, 
1848. This mission included at that time, the towns of Abing- 
ton, Randolph, Kraintrec, Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset and 
Milton. Father Rodden Avas a person of fine ability, improved 
by a filiislicd education and extensive reading. At this time he 
was the princij)al literary editor of the Boston Pilot. His judi- 
cious management of the society, and his amiability, not only 
made him popular with his parish, but also with the town's peo- 
ple. At the close of his peaceful labors Avith this rapidly increas- 
ing mission, the bishop directed that Father Ikoche should 
officiate as Parish Priest over the 8t. John's Church. Father 
Roche continued his able and efficient ministrations over his 
faithful flock for several years, and Avas succeeded by the Rev. 
James llalley, Avho Avas oiie of the most devout fathers that 
was ever installed over them ; untiring in his exertions for the 
the spiritual advancement of the society, working night and day, 
out of season as Avell as in season, for their temporal comfort. 
His social (pialities were such as to endear him to all. By his 
executive ability aiid uiicominon economical administi'ation of 
the affairs of the parisli, he was gratified at the close of his pas- 
torate, to inform them that they were free from all debt. Rev. 
James Sullivan followed Fatlier Halley as parish priest, but after 
being connected with the society for several years liis health 
failed him, and a great share of the arduous duties of (lie church 
was conducted by the curate. After some time of painful suf- 
fering from a lingering consunipl ion, he was rt'niovc(l by death 
from his parochial <lulies, Nov. 13th, 1871. Father Sullivan was 



278 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

the first priest who has died in the parish. After his decease, 
the former curate under Father Sullivan, the Rev. Francis Frigu- 
glietti, was called upon by the Right Reverend Bishop to assume 
the charge over this parish. After his installation, it was found 
necessary to enlarge the church, and in August, 1872, ground 
was broken for that purpose. Father Friguglietti continues to 
preside over this large and still increasing parish, ably assisted 
by the curate, Father Dennehy. 



In 1841, the Catholics purchased a piece of land on Cemetery 
street, of Mr. James Hall, for the purpose of building a church. 
As soon as all necessary arrangements could be made, they 
began the construction of their meeting-house, which was fin- 
ished in the fall of 1842, and dedicated to God under the title of 
St. Mary's Church, Sept. 18th, 1842, by the Right Rev. Bishop 
Fen wick. It was the desire of the members of this parish, that 
it should be conducted on the free church principal, but after 
having tried the experiment for about two years, they found 
that it could not be supported in this manner ; therefore, they 
voted to rent the seats at such a rate as would pay their current 
expenses. Its seating capacity was about four hundred. Its 
worshippers increased so rapidly after its erection, that two addi- 
tions were made to it. In the fall of 1876, the idea was sug- 
gested of constructing a basement room under the church, but 
it was not favorably received by the parish, and was given up 
for a time. 

In 1851, the Catholic worshippers of the central part of the 
town found it very inconvenient to travel so far as West Quincy 
to church; to obviate this difficulty Father Roddei], in 1851, 
purchased a site for a church of Mr. Francis Williams, on 
School street, corner of (4ay ; where immediately after the 
removal of the house and barn that stood on the land, they 
began building operations. They soon found, however, that their 
finances were not sufficient to complete the building. This 
caused a suspension for a few months, or until a proper amount 
of funds could be procured for its completion. This was ac- 
complished in a short time, and they soon had the gratification 



o 

? EH 



52^ 



n 










EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 279 

of having this line edifice dedicated in 1853, the solemn and 
imposing ceremony being performed by the Riglit Rev. Bishop 
P"'itzpatrick, and was called St. Jolin's Church. Its seating ca))ac- 
ity was about four liuudred. Eighteen years from this time, it 
was found expedient to enlarge this meeting-house, for the bet- 
ter accommodation of the increasing wants of the society ; and 
directly steps were taken for this purpose by purchasing, in 1H71, 
a])out an acre of land adjoining the church, of the late Jolin D, 
Whicher. In August, 1872, Avorkmen began the excavation for 
the basement of this enlargement, and in the fall of the same 
year, the old church, with its original spire, was moved about 
twenty feet to the westward upon its present site, after having 
been raised twelve feet or more. Two large wings were added, 
— one to its east and the other to its Avest side — and an exten- 
sion of about fifty feet to its southerly end. The corner stone 
was laid Avith impressive and grand ceremonies, amid the en- 
chanting strains of celestial music, chanted by a select choir, from 
the sublime oratories of the church, on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 
24th, 1872. The services Avere conducted by the Right Rev. 
Bishop Williams and other eminent clergymen of the Diocese, 
and Avas Avitnessed by a large concourse of ])eople. The church 
Avas finally finished in 1874, and dedicated June 14th, the same 
year, by the Right Rev. Bishop Williams. It is an imposing 
structure — built of wood, and Avill seat nearly eleven hundred 
persons. Its interior fresco ornamentation is unique in design 
and chaste in coloring, and surpasses all other churches in town 
for its elegant interior decorations. The high altar is a fine 
Avork of art and mechanical construction. The stone curbing in 
front of the church Avas placed there in the summer and tlie iron 
fence during the fall of 1877. 

During the same year a new church was built on Hancock 
street, in tlie north part of the town, and Avas called the Sacred 
Heart. This church has not as yet been dedicated, but services 
are held in it every Sabbath. 

At the time the town Avas incorjjorated, it appears l)y the jioll 
list, that there Avere Init three Celtics Irish pei'sons in town, viz : — 
Moses Black, Esq., .lames Dorren and Thomas Welch. IMr. 
Moses Black was, at the time of his residence here, owner of the 



280 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, 

old Quincy domain. He was an Irish gentleman of great popu- 
larity in town, and held several town offices of trust. Mr. Black 
was the only Irishman that ever represented the town in the 
State Legislature. From that time the Celtic element gradually 
accumulated until 1842, when they, with others from the neigli- 
boring towns, were of a sufficient number to establish a church. 
At this time there were about one hundred Irish in Quincy. 
The great bulk of them came between the years 1845 and 1855. 
As a political element, we find that in 1843, there were but 
twelve Irish voters registered on the list; now, there are more 
foreigners and their descendants on the registration list than 
there were, both native and foreign, in 1843. Af the present 
time, they and their descendants constitute more than^one-third 
of the population of the town. As yet, intermarriages between 
the Celtic and Saxon races are of rare occurrence ; still several 
unions of this kind have taken place. 



BAPTIST CHURCH. 



The establishment of the Baptist denomination in New Eng- 
land met with powerful opposition, as well as severe iiersecution, 
by the first settlers of the colonies; one reason being, the 
peculiarity of their doctrine on infant ba])tism and immersion. 
These cardinal principles of the Baptists, the Puritans considered 
incom})atible and inconsistent with the teachings of the divine 
scriptures ; hence the enactment of the following law, to pre- 
vent such " Hereticks" from coming among them : — 

" For as much as experience hath plentifully and often jjroved 
that since the first arising of ye Anabaptist, about a hundred 
years since, they have bene ye incendiaries of ye commonwealth, 
and ye infectors of persons in maine matters of religion, and ye 
troublers of churches in all places where they have bene, and 
y't they who have held ye baptizing of infants unlawfull, have 
usually held oth'r errors or heresies together therewith though 
they have, (as oth'r hereticks use to do) concealed ye same, till 
they spied out a fit advantage and oportunity to vent them, by 



BELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, 281 

way of question or scruple, and whereas divers of this kind have, 
since o'r comeg into New England, appeared amongst o'rselves, 
some whereof have (as oth'rs before them) denied ye ordinance 
of magistracy and ye lawfulnes of making warr, and oth'rs ye 
lawfulnes of ma'trats, and their inspection into any breach of ye 
first table w'ch opinions, if they should be connived at by us, are 
like to be increased amongst us, and so must necessarily bring 
guilt upon us, infection and trouble to ye churches, and hazard 
to ye whole commonwealth. 

"It is ordered and agreed, y't if any p'son or p'sons w'thin y's 
jurisdiction shall either openly condemne or oppose ye baptiz'g 
of infants, or go about secretly to seduce oth'rs from ye app'ba- 
tion or use thereof, or shall purposely depart ye congregation at 
ye administration of ye ordinance, or shall deny ye ordinance of 
magistracy, or their lawful! right or authority to make warr, or 
to punish ye outward breaches of ye first table, and shall appare 
to ye Co't wilfully and obstinately to continue therein after due 
time and nieanes of conviction, every such p'son or p'sons shalbe 
sentenced to banishm't. Nov. 13th, 1644." — Mass. Rec, Vol. II, 
p. 85. 

One year after this act was passed by the Legislature, an effort 
was made by the Baptists to have it repealed, but the court 
" Voted, that the laws mentioned shall not be altered at all, nor 
explained." 

In 1646, the inhabitants of Dorchester and Roxbury petitioned 
the court not to abrogate, or even weaken the law, M'hich was 
granted. 

The first person that we find in the records, arrested and 
brought to the court for the misdemeanor of profession of this 
doctrine, was Mr. Edwai'd Starbuck, of Dover, in 1648. It was 
many years before this prejudice against the Baptists was com- 
pletely eradicated, and they were allowed to worship God in 
accordance with the dictates of their own conscience ; even up 
to the time of organizing their first society, and worshipinng on 
Noodles Island, in Boston, 1668, they were imprisoned and pun- 
ished for not attending the established church. 

The first church was erected in Boston so quietly and unosten- 
tatiously, that the authorities had not the least suspicion of it 
37 



282 RELIGIOFS SOCIETIES, 

until it was dedicated for public worship, in 1679. This effron- 
tery or contumacy was immediately punished with a severe pen- 
alty, by having the doors of the church nailed up and the 
following order posted upon them : — 

" All persons are to take notice that by order of the court, the 
doors of this house are shut up, and that they are inhabitated to 
hold any meeting, or to open the doors thereof, without license 
from authority, till the General Court take further order, as they 
will answer the contrary at their peril. 

« Boston, March 8th, 1680." 

In 1865, on the evening of December 19th, a meeting was 
held by Baptists residing at Quincy Point, to consider the expe- 
diency of a united effort looking to the formation of a Baptist 
church. 

" As a result a hall was secured, furnished and dedicated, and 
public Sabbath services were held April 1st, 1866, for the first 
time ; and two weeks later a Sabbath School, numbering forty- 
five was commenced. Sept. 16th, the ordinance of baptism was 
first administered, but the church was not properly constituted 
until the next year, Feb. 23d, 1867, when eleven persons were 
organized as the First Baptist Church of Quincy. Several were 
added at subsequent meetings soon after, and twenty by bajitism 
the following summer. 

"In February, 1868, Mr. Daniel J. Stone of Cordaville, was 
called to the pastorate, and May 13th, the church was publicly 
recognized by an Ecclesiastical Council, and Mr. Stone ordained 
as pastor. The church was received into the Boston South 
Association in September. Mr. Stone was much beloved, and 
continued his labors until his sudden death in May, 1869. The 
followii\g year the Rev. W. R. Maul was pastor for a short time ; 
Rev. Lewis Colby was stated supply for some months following. 
In September, 1871, the Rev. G. B.Williams took charge of the 
chui'ch. Under his watchful care, the society was harmonious 
and prosperous. Thirteen persons were received by baptism, 
and some by letter from other churches. June 3d, 1877, the 
Rev. Charles H. Hickok was installed over this society. 

" The importance and necessity of organizing a Baptist church 
at Wollaston Heights early engaged the attention of bi-ethren 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 283 

who had become residents of the place. A meeting was held 
July 13th, 1871, and the church, consisting of twenty-three mem- 
bers, was duly constituted under the name of " The Urst Baptist 
Church of Wollaston Heights." The usual Declaration of Faith 
and Church Covenant were adopted. A building committee of 
three was appointed to prepare plans and arrange for erecting 
at once a house of worship. The church was publicly recog- 
nized by an Ecclesiastical Council, Sept. 19th, 1871, and a week 
later, it was received into the Boston South Association. In 
December, the church called the Rev. Stephen G. Abbott of 
Townshend, Vt., to become their j^astor, who entered upon 
his labors, Jan. 1st, 1872. June 24th, the church was legally 
organized as a society, and a board of trustees chosen. July 6th, 
the corner-stone of the new chapel was laid with appropriate 
ceremonies. But the church continued to worship during the 
rest of the year at the Union Chapel, a hall where union relig- 
ious services had been held from the first settlement of the 
place. 

"The chapel, finished at a cost of about $15,000 and capable of 
seating three hundred and fifty persons, was dedicated Jan. 16th, 
1873. The bell was presented by H. H. Faxon, Esq., of Quincy, 
and the land was the gift of the "Wollaston Land Associates. 
The building is of wood, Gothic in style, with stained windows, 
and handsomely frescoed, having organ, baptistery, bible-class 
room, library and kitchen — in everything simple, tasteful and 
convenient. 

" On Sunday evening, April 27th, occurred the first baptism. 
October 7th, the pastor resigned, but continued to supply the 
pulpit through the year. 

"At a meeting of the church Jan. 30th, 1874, a cordial and 
earnest invitation was extended to the Rev. Charles H. Rowe, of 
Weymouth, to become pastor, and was signed by all the resident 
members of the church and the board of trustees. The pastor 
elect assumed charge, April 1st, 1874. In a year and a half the 
church doubled in membership, and continues united and pros- 
perous. Eighty-two in all have united with the church. Of 
these, eleven have been dismissed, and two have died. The 
present number of members is sixty-nine. 



284 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

There are quite a number of Baptists, residents in other parts 
of the town, who are not members of either of these churches, 
who hold their connection with churches where previously asso- 
ciated." 



The Spiritualists began holding services in the Town Hall 
about the year 1855, and meeting with some degree of success, 
they concluded that it Avould be more convenient for them to 
have a place of their own in which to hold meetings ; therefore, 
Mr. Clift Rogers purchased the unoccupied Methodist Chapel 
on the corner of Sea and Canal streets, (now Chestnut and 
Canal), and presented it to them free of rent to worship in. 
After holding their services here for several years with varied 
prosperity, they were at last obliged to give up their exercises, 
as the congregation had lost all interest in the meetings. A few 
years ago, the society was revived again, and commenced to 
hold its services in Tempei-ance Hall, on Granite street. This 
place of worship becoming too small for the audience, the so- 
ciety moved to Franklin Hall, on Franklin street, in the early 
part of 1878, for their better accommodation. 



BRAINTREE CHURCHES. 



Sixty-seven years after the First Church was organized, the 
settlement along the quiet banks of the Monatiquot river had 
increased to seventy-one families, or within one of as many as 
there were in the North Precinct. These settlers, desiring a 
more convenient place of worship, (they having to travel a long 
distance over bad roads to the usual place of service,) after a 
bitter and angry controversy on the subject, finally succeeded, 
in 1706, in getting a vote of the town to establish a church in 
the South Precinct, which is now called North Braintree. It 
was not, however, until Nov. 9th, 1708, that the question was 
definitely settled, and the division line established between the 
two parishes, viz: — "9th Nov., 1708, the inhabitants of Brain- 
tree being laAvfully assembled, it was then voted, that there 



KELIGIOTJS SOCIETIES. 285 

• 

should be two distinct precincts or societies in this town, for the 
more regular and convenient upholding of the Avorship of God. 
"It was then voted by the inhabitants aforesaid, that Colonel 
Edmund Quincy, Esq., and Serg. Nehemiah Hayden, be a com- 
mittee in the name of the Avhole town, to address the Great and 
General Court or Assembly now sitting, for their approving and 
confirming the line by them agreed upon betAveen the said soci- 
eties. 

" The inhabitants of Braintree being lawfully assembled, then 
voted that the line for the distinction of precincts between the 
North and South Societies should run as followeth : — That said 
line begin at the head of the shi]) cove by John Newcomb's, 
Senior, taking in his living to the south end, and so run from 
the head of said cove to the common, and so to run from the 
common, by said John Newcomb's, to the line between John 
^ Penniman's, Jr., and Samuel Veasey's ; and then running upon 
the line between Theophilus Curtis's and Francis Legaree's, as 
also running upon the line between Serg. Samuel Payne's and 
""* James Penniman's, to the common ; and from thence to the 
north-west corner of Faxon's farm, to the north-west corner of 
Aldrige's farm ; and so to run from said corner of said farm 
from marked trees to the mouth of Blue Hill river, Avhere it 
comes into Moore's river; and so by said Blue Hill river to 
Dorchester, upon the Blue Hill line." 

This has been an important line ; first serving as the line be- 
tAveen the two military companies of the toAvn, and at the estab- 
lishment of the Church at Braintree it formed tlie boundary 
line between the two parishes. In 1792, at the separation and 
division of the town, this line also formed the boundary between 
the tAvo towns, and has remained to this day nearly the same, 
Avith the exception tliat a slight change Avas made at the annexa- 
tion of Braintree Neck to Quincy. As soon as this ucav church 
had been gathered — Sept. 10th, 1707 — an invitation Avas tended 
to Rev. Hugh Adams, avIio accepted the call. Mr." Adams Avas 
an eccentric person, and complained a great deal about his sal- 
ary. The church, at this time, Avas quite poor, and it Avas a 
severe struggle for them to get along and pay their minister, 
as well as paying their portion of the salary of Rev. Mr. Fisk, 



286 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

of the First Parish. Mr. Adams administered to the wants of 
this parish about three years, when he was succeeded by the 
Rev. Samuel Niles, who was ordained May 23d, 1711. Mr. 
Niles was born May 1st, 1674, and graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege in 1699. During Mr. Niles's pastorate the old church 
was pulled down, and a new one erected on the same site, which 
was dedicated June 28th, 1759. This society has had three 
meeting-houses constructed for divine worship since its organ- 
ization. The present one had its tower blown off in the great 
September gale of 1869. Mr. Niles was a worthy clergyman, 
and by his learned treatise on original sin, a book published by 
him in 1757, of over three hundred pages, he established a char- 
acter of an able and powerful controversialist. His fragmentary 
history of the Indian and French wars, compiled by him in 1760, 
has been published in the Massachusetts Historical Collections. 
He died May 1st, 1762, aged eiglity-eighf years. Rev. Mr. Niles 
and his three wives lie buried in the Elm Street Cemetery, 
North Braintree. 

Mr. Niles was succeeded by the Rev. Ezra Weld, who Avas 
born in Pomfret, Connecticut, June 13th, 1736. . He graduated 
at Yale College in 1759, and was ordained as minister of the 
second church in Braintree, Nov. 17th, 1762. After a long and 
2:)eaceful administration of his ministerial duties over this parish, 
he died, Jan. 16th, 1816, aged eighty years. Mr. Weld was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. Sylvester Sage, who was dismissed. May 
4th, 1807. After Mr. Sage, Dr. Richard Salter Storrs received 
a call, Avhich he accejjted. 

Dr. Storrs was born at Longmeadow, Mass., in Feb., 1787, and 
graduated at Williams College, in 1807. He afterwards studied 
theology with Rev. Aaron Woolworth, at Bridgehampton, L. I., 
and also spent a year at Andover Seminary. He was acting as 
a missionary in the State of Georgia, at the time he received his 
call to become pastor over the Braintree church. His ordina- 
tion at Braintree took place July 11th, 1811, with the following 
exercises : — 

The Rev. Jonathan Strong, of West Randolph, made the 
introductory prayer; the sermon was preached by the Rev. 
R. Si Storrs ; tlio consecrating pi-ayer was offered by the Rev. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIBS. 287 

Samuel Niles, of Abington ; the charge to the pastor was given 
by the moderator of tlie eouiieil, the Rev. Mr. Williams, of South 
Weymouth ; the right hand of felloM'ship by the Rev. Jacob 
Norton, of North Weymouth ; the concluding prayer was by 
the Rev. Samuel Gile, of Milton. 

In 1831, Dr. Storrs considered it his duty to ask a dismission 
of five years from his society, which was freely granted, that he 
might enter upon the more arduous duties as an agent of the 
Home Missionary Society, for which his christian spirit so much 
desii-ed. In his absence, Dr. Edward A. Park, now a theological 
professor at Andover, was ordained, and remained about two 
years. During the remaining portion of Dr. Storrs's absence, 
the pulpit WMS supplied by two brothers, the Rev. Paul and 
William Jewett. 

On the return of Dr. Storrs, he resumed his former parochial 
duties. Mr. Storrs was a firm advocate, and an active supporter 
of the doctrines of the church to Avhich he belonged. So tena- 
cious w^as he of his church's tenets, that he was among the first 
clergymen who refused to exchange "j^ulpits with other than 
Evangelical teachers." During his long ministration four hun- 
dred and twenty-two persons were admitted to the church, four 
liundred and eighty were baptized, four hundred and twenty- 
seven marriages were solemnized, and seven hundred and thirty- 
six funerals were attended. After an extended and honorable 
pastorate of sixty-two years, he was called to the bosom of his 
God — ripe and full of years — Aug. 11th, 1873, aged eighty-six 
years. He and his three wives lie buried in tlie old Elm Street 
Cemetery, nearly opposite the church in which he so many years 
administered Avith so great and uncommon fidelity. 

The present i)astor, Thomas A. Emerson, was installed May 
7th, 1874. 



The Union Church of Weymouth and IJraintree was organ- 
ized in 1811, and the Rev, Daniel Clark was called to its pasto- 
rate, who was installed Dec. 3^1st, of the same year, and after 
remaining there about two years, was dismissed Oct. 1st, 1813. 
During the interregnum, the church was without a settled pas- 
tor, and the pulpit was supi^lied by various clergymen. On the 



288 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

14th of June, 1815, the Rev. Jonas Perkins was ordained as its 
minister. Mr. Perkins's pastorate was a long and peaceful one, 
he having administered to its spiritual wants nearly half a 
century, or forty-five years. He was released from his parochial 
duties, Oct. 15th, 1860, and after a few months was succeeded 
by the Rev. Lysander Dickerman, who was installed Jan. 17th, 
1861, and received his resignation in July, 1867. Mr. Dicker- 
man was followed by the Rev. A. A. Ellsworth, who commenced 
his labors as acting pastor, April 1st, 1868, and remained as such 
until he was relieved of his christian duties in the fall of 1871, 
when the Rev. Lucien H. Frary received an invitation to become 
its pastor. He was installed April 13th, 1875, and still min- 
isters to the spiritual wants of the society. 

The meeting-house in which this society worshij) was the old 
Hollis Street Church, of Boston, which was taken down in 1810, 
and floated on a raft from Boston to Braintree, and there rebuilt 
on its present site for this society, and not, as Mr. Drake says in 
his Old Landmarks of Boston, for Dr. Storrs's church, in North 
Braintree. A few years since, it was extensively remodeled at 
a cost of several thousand dollars. It is now a fine and commo- 
dious edifice. 



The Third Congregational Church Avas established in South 
Braintree in 1829, and the Rev. Lyman Matthews was ordained 
as its first clergyman, Aug. 4th, 1830. He continued its wor- 
thy pastor for a period of more than fourteen years, when he 
obtained his resignation, Oct. 4th, 1844. The pulpit of this 
church was supplied for about a year by various clergymen, 
when Aug. 7th, 1845, the Rev. Francis D. Tenney was installed. 
His connection with the society continued about three years, 
when he was dismissed Nov. 14th, 1848. Mr. Tenney was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. William B. Hammond, who was called to 
settle over the parish. He was inducted into his parochial 
duties April 19th, 1849, and continued to administer to its 
spiritual wants about seven years. Mr. Hammond received his 
dismissal April 22d, 1856, when the Rev. Dennis Powers was 
solicited to become its pastor, and was ordained Dec. 4th, of 
the same year, receiving his discharge July 11th, 1860. He was 



BELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 289 

followed by the Rev. Lucius R. Eastman, Jr., who was installed 
May 1st, 1862. After about three years of active labor for the 
society, he was dismissed June 7th, 1865. During the four-year 
interval, the church was supplied by several clergymen, when on 
the 10th of Oct., 1869, the Rev. L.Wheaton Allen was ordained. 
Their present pastor, Albion H. Johnson, was installed April 1st, 
1875. 



The Baptist Church in Braintree was organized Sept. 29th, 
1842. Their house for religious worship was constructed the 
same year, being dedicated Oct. 2od. Their first clergyman was 
the Rev. George N. Waitte, who commenced his labors over this 
society Sept. 10th, 1843, and resigned his charge March 29th, 
1846. The Rev. John B. Leanard succeeded Mr. Waitte, being 
installed Nov. 27th, of that year, and continued to preach for 
them until 1847, when the Rev. Aaron Haynes received a call 
from the society, which Avas accepted, and he was installed June 
4th, of the same year, where he continued to labor imtil Aug. 
15th, 1848. After Mr. Haynes, the Rev. George Deland was 
called, who accepted the office of pastor, and was installed May 
20th, 1849, and relinquished his charge Sept. 7th, 1856. Some 
two years after, Mr. Deland was installed a second time, Jan. 
5th, 1858, and was dismissed in 1859. Mr. Deland Avas followed 
by the Rev. R. B. Moody, who was installed as pastor of this 
church in May, 1862, and received his dismissal April 29th, 1866, 
when the Rev. T. C. Russell was called to labor as their pastor, 
and was ordained Dec. 1st, 1866, being relieved of his charge 
March 9th, 1868. The next clergyman who received a call Avas 
the Rev. George B. Williams, Avho Avas installed in May, 1869, 
and relinquished his pastorate in May, 1870. Mr. AVilliams Avas 
followed by the Rev. T. W. Clark, as stated supply, Avhere he 
continued his labors of love OA'er this declining society, until the 
fall of 1871, Avhen he resigned his charge. This society con- 
tinued to dwindle and fall aAvay until 1877, Avhen the church 
was sold to the Methodists, Avho, during that year, extensively 
rej)aired and decorated it. This society Avas organized Feb. 
22d, 1874. The conference stationed the Rev. Edward M. Tay- 
lor over this ncAv parish, under Avhose labors they have largely 

'38 



290 KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

increased their members, and are in a prospero\is condition. 
The greatest harmony and christian fellowship prevails among 
them. 

There is a small chapel on Elm street, North Braintree, for- 
merly occupied by the Baptists, which has been given up for 
the want of proper support. 



In 1877, the Catholics of Braintree organized a society, and 
now hold services in Holbvook's Hall, in South Braintree, and 
are a branch of the Quincy Diocese. They have also selected and 
purchased a piece of land on Taylor street, for the purpose of 
erectino- a church. 



RANDOLPH CHURCHES. 



A little band of settlers gradually gathered on the banks of 
the little Cochato, Avho found it quite inconvenient to travel to 
the Middle or South Precinct, as it was then called, to attend 
religious worship; as it had been, for the inhabitants of the 
South Precinct to go to the North to attend their Sabbath-day 
meetings. This annoyance caused the inhabitants of this part 
of Braintree to petition for a council of churches to consider 
and deliberate upon the expediency of establishing a society at 
Cocliato, by setting them off as a distinct and separate parish. 
On the convening of the council, the whole question of separa- 
tion came before them, and after a candid and considerate delib- 
eration, the council granted them permission to foi-ni a church 
in the south part of the town. This pai'ish Avas organized on the 
28th of May, 1731, which made the third, or New South Precinct 
of Braintree. The town of Randolph, (which was named after 
that noted member of Congress from Virginia, the Hon. Pey- 
ton Randolph,) was not incorporated until 1793, or sixty-two 
years after the society was formed. 

The first church was built in 1728. Several clergymen were 
invited to preach as candidates before one was settled. The first 
clergyman called was the Rev. Elisseus Eaton, who was installed 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 291 

June 2(1, 1731. Mr. Eaton continued as their pastor upwards of 
nineteen years, when he relinquished his charge, June 7th, 1750, 
being succeeded by the Rev. Moses Taft. That saintly divine 
was consecrated to his christian duties, Aug. 26th, 1752. He 
continued to minister to their spiritual wants to an advanced 
age, when Jonathan Strong, D. D., was made colleague pastor 
with him, on the 28th of Jan., 1789, about three years before Mr. 
Taft's death, which occurred Nov. 11th, 1791. Dr. Strong, that 
able and eminent divine, continued to act as their beloved pas- 
tor for twenty-five years, or until 1814, when he died, respected 
by all. He Avas succeeded by the Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy, who 
was installed Xov. 22d, 1815, and remained their clergyman 
until April 26th, 1820, when he relinquished his christian duties. 
Mr. Pomeroy was followed by the Rev. Calvin Hitchcock, who 
Avas ordained as the fifth pastor of this church Feb. 28th, 1821, 
and continued for thirty years to ably administer to their spir- 
itual wants, being relieved from his pastorate June 9th, 1851. 
Dr. Hitchcock was succeeded by the Rev. C. M. Cordley, who 
was installed the 3d of March, 1852, Avhere he continued to 
preach till dismissed by advice of council, Oct. 14th, 1858. ]Mr. 
Cordley Avas succeeded by the Rev. Henry E. DAvight, Avho Avas 
ordained Dec. 29th, 1859, and dismissed April 1st, 1862. Fol- 
loAving Mr. Dwight, the Rev. John C. Labaree Avas installed Dec. 
14th, 1865, and still continues as their pastor. The membership 
of the church is noAV about one hundred and sixty-six. 



North Baptist Church — now the First Baptist Church of 
Randolph. About the year 1819, a fcAv friends of the Baptist 
persuasion, Avho had been connected Avith the East Stoughton 
Church, held occasional i^rayer and preaching meetings at i)ri- 
vate houses, and so successful Avere their christian teachings in 
the conversion of souls, and the accession of friends from other 
societies to their number, that they concluded to establish a 
church. In accordance Avith these vIcaa's, they called a meeting 
at Mr. Shadrach Thayer's house, Sept. 21st, to consider the pro- 
priety of establishing a distinct ]>aptist society in Randolph. 
After a prayerful consultation, they agreed to form a church, 
and selected several of the brethren as a committee to prepare 



292 KELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

a covenant and articles of faith. At a subsequent meeting, the 
covenant and articles of faith were submitted to them. After a 
careful consideration, they were accepted, to which thirty breth- 
ren and sisters subscribed, and at the completion of the building, 
of the meeting-house, in November, there were forty-seven 
members on the roU.^ 

This little flock invited the Rev. Warren Bird to become their 
first pastor, who accepted, and was installed in April, 1820, "at 
a salary of one hundred pounds lawful money." Owing to ill- 
health, Mr. Bird's labors were of short duration, he being obliged 
to resign his charge in May, 1821. Mr. Bird subsequently em- 
braced the doctrine of Swedenborg. He was born in Marsh- 
field, Mass., Oct. 25th, 1791, and died at Foxboro' in 1863. A 
few months after the resignation of Mr. Bird, or in September, 
1821, the Rev. S. C. Dillaway was selected to supply the pulpit 
for one year. He was succeeded by the Rev. Benj. Putnam, 
who had for some time been supplying the sacred desk, and 
received a call to become their pastor. After accepting the 
position, he was ordained July 2d, 1823. Mr. Putnam's pros- 
perous labors terminated with this parish April 1st, 1829. This 
worthy divine was born Sept. 1st, 1788, in BakerstoAvn, Maine, 
and commenced preaching at the early age of eighteen years. 
For one year the Rev. Amos Lefavour supplied the church, after 
which the Rev. Joseph M. Driver was installed Nov. 16th, 1830. 
He remained until October, 1832, when he was dismissed to 
assume another pastorate. Mr. Driver was followed by the 

1. The following is a list of members upon the roll at the completion of the 
meeting-house :— Daniel Alden, Seth Alden, Hosea Alden, William Ahlen, 
Harmony Alden, Thankful Alden, Phebe Beals, Hepsibah Howard, Polly- 
Lines, Aaron Littlefield, Micah Littlefield, Meribah Littlefield, John Madan, 
John Madan, Jr., Abigail Madan, Benjamin Mann, Seth Mann, Hannah Mann, 
Louisa Mann, Polly Mann, Mary D. Keed, Avis Smith, Zeba Smith, Joshua 
Spear, Joshua Spear, Jr., Otis Spear, Zeba Spear, Hannah Spear, Nancy Spear, 
Polly Spear, Sarah Spear, Jonathan Stetson, Charlotte Stetson, Joshua Thayer, 
Shadrach Thayer, Zaccheus Thayer, Thomas W. Tolman, Sarah Tolman, Betsy 
Tucker, Jonathan Wales, Jonathan Wales, Jr., Caleb White, Calvin White, 
Livingston White, Micah White, Nathan White, Sarah White. 

The first clerk of the church was Thomas W. Tolman. His sou, Gilbert A. 
Tolman, was afterwards clerk for about twenty years. Seth Alden and Zeba 
Spear were their deacons, and Dr. Jonathan AVales acted as treasurer. 



RELlGIOirS SOCIETIES. 293 

Rev. J. M, Coley, who, after having supplied the church for 
several months, was installed June 11th, 1833, and after a short 
pastorate, relinquished his charge in February, 183G. The sixth 
minister that was called to preach to them, was the Rev. Conant 
Sawyer, who was ordained in April, 1836, and during his short 
term of service the vestry of the church was constructed. The 
subscription commenced in the dying chamber of that noble, 
generous and worthy pillar of the church, Mr. Thomas W. Tol- 
man, who then gave $200 in aid of that building. Mr. Sawyer's 
pastorate closed in 1838. He was born in Monkton, Vermont, 
May 28d, 1805, and was about thirty-one years of age when he 
began his labor of love with the parish. Mr. Sawyer was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. Otis Converse, who was installed April 1st, 
1838, under whose ministrations large accessions were made to 
the membership of the church, but ill health compelled him to 
resign his pastorate. His successor was the Rev. Charles H. 
Peabody, who was settled over this society in December, 1840. 
During the great revival under his labors, he baptized seventy- 
three persons in the months of January, February and March. 
His labors seem to have impaired his health ; as, while this good 
work was going on, he was called by his Master, April 21st, 1842, 
from these arduous services to attend to the higher duties of 
singing eternal Hosanna around the altar of his God. Mr. Pea- 
body was born at Amherst, New Hampshire, now Mount Ver- 
non, June 12th, 1799, and was forty-three years of age at the 
time of his regretted and much-lamented death ; after whom, 
the Rev. Henry Clark was settled over this church, in 1842, and 
relinquished his charge in December, 1846. 

Mr. Clark was succeeded by the Rev. R. W. E. Brown, of 
Portland, Maine, who Avas ordained June 22d, 1848, and in 
less than a year, resigned. A few months after, the Rev. 
Thomas Driver, who had been su])plying the pulpit, was settled 
over this parish. He resigned his pastoral charge April 1st, 
1852. The church then extended an invitation to the Rev. 
Benjamin Wheeler to become their pastor, who accepted, and in 
May of the same year, began his labors, which were terminated 
Dec. 2d, 1858. His resignation was much regretted. 

Mr. Wheeler was followed by the Rev. William F. Stubbert, 



-01 KKl.ltJlOl'S KOtMKTTlCS. 

wluwiitcri'il Upon his(liili»\s April Isl, IS.i'.i, w licit' lu' olVu i.'iU'tl 
' Mr. 



\» nil riiuMi'u upiiu lusiiiiiH'.s .vpiii isi, i,-v.i;', \\ licit' lie diiici.ii ('(I 

willi m-c:it .ufcplMbilil y until he resigned, Ot't. 7lli, IS(il). INlr. 

SluhlnMl w :is sucfcctlctl hy I lie K'c\ . NN'illcll \'ary in April, 

ISttti. whose pMstiUMf t' w MS ol* liul eleven iiitnilhs" iliii:il iiui. In 

.Inne, IS(»S, John I'lyor, h. I )., w mm enga^'tnl lis nImIciI supply, 

l'(>r six nuMiths. At the t>\ [lirMt ion ttf his term, he \> ms re- 
.......... ...I I.. \.,..;i !..< ivi-.o t..,i .,..,<; I 1.;. 1..1 •;) 1 



I . ' I .-. 1 A 1 I 1 I ' I I I 1 I .^ , .11 I I U t \ I ) 1 I . I I I W I I * » I I I I ,T I \ 1 i I I , 

cneMm'il to .\piil 1st, IS(>;i, hut eontinuetl his l.iliois iinti 

isl, of the sMiue \t'Mr. in ()itoliei-, the K'e\. .Imiiics I'".. Wilson 
rci'cixeil M e.ill ms m i>;t)»)tl shepherd I'or t his ehrisi inn lloek, nnd 
w .IS ordMliied in I )t'i'i<nil)t'r, I Stilt. lie w.'is sueeci'dt'tl Ity llio 
l\e\ . .Iose|)h ( '. l'\ister, who eoiniueneed his pMsltU'.Mtc .Imii. Isl, 
l.S7i>, iiiiil still idtly ministers to their spirit umI w.iiits. I'ri'vitxis 
to IjiMHy; NOttlt>tl Mt l\Mntlolph, he liMtl lieen the p.istor of tlio 
First Haptist. ( 'hureh ill l?e\t'ilv sivlecn ycMis. The nnnilter of 
eonimnui('Mnts :i(hled to the ehui-eh since the prt'sent p.Mstor w :is 
tird.'iincd, is si\t\ three, .ind the whole nnmlier of memher.s of 
the ehnrch Mt the lu'cseiil time is two hundred Mini sixty-t)nt'. 

'The lou;;t'st |>MsttMMte in the histtUN' of the pMiish w ms six 
ye.Mis Mild siv lutuitlis. '['he elei'>;yiii:m tlnit served this length 
of time w MS the K'ev. l>cniMiiiin Wheeler. 

The Ntulh l>Mptist,or :is it is now cMllcd, the l''irst l>Mptist. 
Church of liMiidolph, luiill their first iiiect in;', house on the prOH- 
ent site in ISl'.l, Mt m cost <d" $;>,(H»0, .iiid it w ms tIe.licMted Nt>V. 
oti, t»f the s.Miiie vcMr. .Ainoii;;,' the hir^cst snhsciihers w :is I >r. 
W.mIcs, who !;m\i' !ii<;i(l(l. Its diineiisions were l;» l>y ;»(> feel. The 
hind iiptMi w liicli it. w'.is const nictt'd, w :is i^'cnertuisly hcipicMthcd 
lt> them 1>\ INIr. /eli.i Spe:ir, a wtM'lhy memher tif the church Mt. 
its lirst tuj^'.Miii/.Mt ion. The church w ms cnhiri'i'd mihI othcrw'iso 
iinp|-o\ctl in ISI,'!, .il. :in e\peiisi< etpi;il to its tirsi cost. In I S7'i, 
llic (picstiiui tif renio<lclin;' the old p:irs(UiM!.'<', (which w ms piir- 
ciiMsed of De.icon D.inicl .\ldeii in IS'.M, Mini h.i.l st(»o.l hu" lifty 
ye:ir,s,) wms Mi^itMtcd, .iiid fuli\ Mv.recd to l>y the niemhers td" the 
Hoeiel.y. Imnu'diMic Mcliou w ms t.ilvcn for this purpose. Mini il. 
WMH HO inotlei'ui/.cd ih.it il litciMlly w ms ni.hh' .1 new sinietiire at. 
n cost id" :i!<'Ji't(l(l. ,S|i,.rl ly :if|er, t he meiiilicis of the pMiisli ctUl 
eludeil lliMt, the iM cliunli (Ui^lil. to he reno\Mletl, Mini heiny; 
liheiMlly supplied with suiricieni mcMiis, they lteu;Mi> t(» recon- 
htrncl il, from ihe found.il imi, iisiii!.'; such porlioii of the «dd 



KELIOIOUS SOCIETIES. 295 

]>uil<]ing as they thouglit necessary. The oh] church was ex- 
toiided at }K»tli C'IhIh, inakinj^ the whole length of the jjresent 
edifice ninety-four feet l>y fifty-KCven in width, and virtually a 
new structure was built on the most itnjiroved system of 
architecture, A graceful Hj>ire of one hundred and sixty feet 
adorns this fine and beautiful meeting-house, and in the belfry a 
new bell of eighteen hundred pounds weight was jdaced, pitched 
in tlie key of F. A new town clock was also added for the con- 
venience of tlie neigliborhood. Tliis was all accomplished at a 
cost of ^;{0,()00, which fias all been jtaid, leaving tlie society out 
of debt or emljarra.sstriciit. TliiH (idifice is a conspicuous orna- 
riH'.ut to the pleasant town of Randolph, This society celebrated 
their senii-centennial anniversary Nov. Ttli, 1809, with becoming 
an<! appif>priate servi(;es. The fiftie.th anniversary of tlie organ- 
i/alion of the parish falling on Wednesday, the /id day of Nov., 
180'J, they decided to celebrate that event with suitable cere- 
monies on the following Sabbath, Nov. 7th. Two of the former 
pastors took a part on this occasion. The old folks who had 
belonged to the old choir enlivened the oc<'asion with their (piaint 
hymns arul j)salmH, accoin|)ani(;d by the anticptated instrumental 
choir music; of tlu; "olden times" — the base viol, violin, flute and 
horn. The church was finely decorated, and approi)riately 
selected texts and mottoes wer(; surrounded with evergreens. 



The M(!thodist Chapel is located on the pleasant eminence 
calliMJ Tower Ilill, and is now in a flourishing condition under 
the judicious ministrations of the Rev. Mr. CJoIman. This society 
is within the JMi'isdiction of tin; New Kiigland Conference, and 
can worship in this (tliapcl as long as tlujy com])ly with the con- 
ililions of th(f propiietor; which is, that they shall hold regular 
services here on the Sabbath. 



Th(! St. Alary 's Catholic; Clnir<;h was organized Dec. 1st, 1H4S. 
Kath(!r Ritihlcn, soon ;il'tcr a sociiety was formed, had ere(;ted 
ihc pl(';isant and ciiniiniKlions niceting-house for the public 
worship of (ioil. The first parish |>riest was the K'cv. .Mr. 
K'oddcn. 'I'lic |ii(S( lit pastor is the; Rev. Tlios. O'lJricn. The 
iiiiiiibcr of members of (lie churcli, incliiding llolbrook, is 1800. 



296 EELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

IIOLBROOK CHURCHES. 



Tliis town was formerly East Randolph, l)ut M^as incorporated 
as a distinct town, Feb. 29t]), 187*2. Mr. Elisha N. Holbrook, (a 
wealtliy inhabitant of the town,) informed its citizens that if they 
would jn-ocure an act of the Legislature to change the name of 
the town from East Randolph to Holbrook, he would make them 
a public bequest, by giving them sufficient means to erect a com- 
modious town hall ; also a fund to establish a public library, 
which they agreed to do. The citizens of the town petitioned 
tlie CTcneral Court for this purpose, and after considerable man- 
agement, they succeeded in getting an act passed by the Legis- 
lature clianging the name from East Randolph to Holbrook. 

The iirst society was established Dec. 15th, 1818, by a large 
number of Mr. Pomeroy's church, in West Randolph, seceding 
and forming themselves into a distinct parish, which was incor- 
porated as the East Parish of Randolph. The Rev. David 
Rrigham was their first pastor, who was installed on the 21st of 
Dec. 1819, and continued his labors of love for seventeen years, 
being dismissed Nov. 22d, 1836. Mr. lirighani was succeeded 
by the Rev. Dennis Powers, who was ordained Dec. 5th, 1838, 
and received his discharge April 15th, 1841. Mr. Powers was 
followed by the Rev. AYilliam A. Peabody, who was settled 
over this church Marcli 2d, 1843, and relinquished his charge 
Oct. 2d, 1849, having been appointed professor at Amherst 
College. This vacancy was filled by the eminent divine. Rev. 
Ezekiel Russell, who was ordained May 8th, 1850, and resigned 
his pastorate Jan. Isl, 1856. This society was mei-ged into the 
Winthrop Cliurch, Dec. 30t]i, 1856, and Dr. Russell was called 
to settle over them as their pastor, and was ordained Feb. 3d, 
1857. Tlieir meeting-house, as Avell as the fine town hall of 
Holbrook, was consununl by fire, on Christmas morning in 1877, 
a great and severe loss to this young village. 



In the south village of Holbrook, called Brookville, is located 
the Baptist Church, which was organized JVIay 30th, 1868, and 
at the time of writing these sketches of the churches in Hol- 
brook, this society was without a settled clergyman. 



SOCIETIES IN GENEEAL. 



MASONRY. 



Tliis ancient fraternity claims its existence back to the build- 
ing of King Solomon's Temple. " But on the plains of Shinnr 
man again rebelled, and as a punishment of his rebellion, at the 
lofty tower of Babel, language was confounded, and Masonry 
lost. The philosophers and sages, however, still retained, or 
discovered by the dim light of nature, some traces of these great 
doctrines of Masonry, the unity of God, and the immortality of 
the soul. But these doctrines they dare not teach in public, for 
history records what would have been the fate of such temerity 
when it informs us that Socrates paid the forfeit of his life, for 
his boldness in proclaiming these truths to the Athenian youths." 

" They therefore taught in secret what they were afraid to 
inculcate in public, and established for this purpose the ancient 
mysteries, those truly masonic institutions, which by a series of 
solemn and imposing ceremonies, prepared the mind of the 
initiated for the reception of those unpopular dogmas, while by 
the caution exercised in the selection of candidates, and the 
obligations of secrecy imposed upon them, the teachers were 
secured from all danger of popular bigotry and fanaticism. Their 
members went through a secret ceremony of initiation, by which 
they became entitled to a full participation in the esoteric 
knowledge of the order, and were in possession of certain modes 
of recognition known only to themselves." 

Although there has been some change in the ritual and 
symbols from the first ancient mysteries, still they approximate 
in a great measure to the original craft. The degrees have been 
varied in number and character, from the original, and are com- 
paratively of modern date. The following ancient degrees 

39 



298 SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 

contain all the legitimate and noble elements of Masonry: — 
Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason. What 
can be more enobling, both to the spiritual and humane charac- 
ter, than the great principles of religion and morality, inculcated 
and imparted by the imposing ceremony to the Apprentice on 
taking his first degree, when the lesson " of humility and con- 
tempt of earthly grandeur is impressed upon his mind by 
symbolic ceremonies, too important in their character ever to be 
forgotten." 

"The beauty and holiness of charity depictured in emblematic 
modes are stronger and more lasting than mere language can ex- 
press." 

Although he is an Entered Apprentice, and allowed to sit in 
the lodge of his degre.e, he cannot speak or vote in the proceed- 
ings. 

The Fellow Craft, on entering, is instructed in the enlarge- 
ment of the mind and truths of the science, now clothed in the 
white garment of innocence, he advances by the j^orch of the 
temple to the middle chamber, where he is taught the method of 
discriminating between a friend or foe; he is directed to the 
wonders of nature and art, and the differences between operative 
and speculative Masonry are unfolded, until by instruction and 
contemplation, he is led to view with reverence and admiration 
the glorious works of the creation, and is inspired with the most 
exalted ideas of the perfection of his Divine Creator. 

Master Mason is the third degree of all the rites. In this, 
which is the perfection of symbolic or ancient craft Masonry, the 
purest truths are unveiled. " None but he who has visited the 
Holy of holies, and travelled the road of peril can have any con- 
ception of the mysteries unfolded in this degree ; its solemn 
observances diffuse a sacred awe, and inculcate most impressively 
the lessons of religious truths. From the sublimity of the truth 
developed in it, and from the solemn nature of the ceremonies, 
it has received the appellation of the ' Sublime Degree.' From 
this degree alone can the officers of the lodge be chosen." 

The first Supreme Council of the 38d degree, was established 
in Charleston, South Carolina, by John Mitchell and others. 
May 31st, 1801, and on the 5th of August, 1813, a similar 



SOCIETIES IN" GENERAL. 299 

council was legally authorized in the city of New York, by the 
proper authorities. " This, and the council at Charleston, are 
the only recognized councils which exists, or can exist, accord- 
ing to the secret constitution of tlie United States. The seat of 
this council has, within a few years, been removed to Boston." 



The Rural Lodge of Quincy, grew out of a lodge of Free and 
Accepted Masons formed in Randolph,^ the 8th of June, 1801, 
and of Masonry, 5801.^ 

1. Tlie Randolph Lodge ■n-as temporarily or<!:anized on the evening of the 
day the nieiiihcrs received their charter. The following gentlemen were chosen 
officers: W. M., William P. Whiting; S. W., Jonathan "Wales, Jr.; J. W., 
Thomas French, Jr. ; S. D., Joshua Niles. At this meeting a committee was 
chosen to purchase jewels and other necessary articles for the lodge. 

2. The following was the charter of Rural Lodge of Randolph:— "Know 
ye, therefore, that we, the Grand Lodge aforesaid, reposing special trust and 
confidence in the prudence and fidelity of our beloved brethren above named, 
have constituted and appointed, and by these presents do constitute and appoint 
them — the said William P. Whiting, Thomas B. Wales, Jonathan Wales, Jr., 
Thomas French, Jr., Joshua Niles, Elihu Bates, Isaac Walker, Eleazer Beals, 
Ephraim Wales, John Turner, Theopilus Wentworth, Isachar Snell and Wil- 
liam French— a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title and 
designation of the Rural Lodge, hereby giving and granting unto them and 
their successors, full power and authority to convene as Masons within the town 
of Randolph, in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth aforesaid, to re- 
ceive and enter Apprentices, pass Fellow Crafts and raise Master Masons, upon 
the payment of such moderate compensation for the same, as may he deter- 
mined by the said lodge. Also, to make choice of a master, wardens and other 
office bearers, annually or otherwise, as they shall see cause; to receive and col- 
lect funds for the relief of poor and distressed brethren, their widows or chil- 
dren, and in general to transact all matters relating to Masonry, which may to 
them appear to be for the good of the craft, according to the ancient usages and 
customs of Masons. 

"And wo do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the Grand 
Lodge at their quarterly communications and other meetings, by their master 
and wardens, or by proxies regularly appointed; also, to keep a fair and regular 
record of all their proceedings, and to lay them before the Grand Lodge when 
required. 

" And we do enjoin upon our brethren of the said lodge, that they bo punct- 
ual in the quarterly payment of such sums as may bo assessed for the support 
of the Grand Lodge; that tlioy hehuvo themselves respectfully and obediently 
to their superiors in office, and in all other respects conduct themselves as good 
Masons. 



300 SOCIETIES IN" GENERAL. 

The next meeting was held June 23cl, and the lodge com- 
pleted its permanent organization. A short time after this, a 
controversy arose among the members with regard to the erection 
of a hall. After considerable consultation, it was decided to 
construct one. Owing to some feeling in this association, on 
account of building the hall, a majority of the members withdrew 
in January, 1802. This action decreased the lodge to the small 
number of seven or eight. During the year of 1803, some four 
new members joined. Just as they began to have new life 
imparted to them, they again became embarrassed by the unma- 
sonic actions of the master, and January 31st, 1803, they found 
that it had become necessary to expel him ; his removal appeared 
to impart more vigor and life to the institution. A meeting was 
held April 4th, 1803, and a new code of by-laws was accepted. 
The members, who the year previous had withdrawn, rejoined, 
having become satisfied that the lodge would now act in 
harmony, and made an election of new officers, viz : — W. M., 
Jonathan Wales, Jr. ; S. W., Thomas French, Jr. ; J. W., Wil- 
liam French ; Treasurer, Jacob Niles ; Secretary, Simeon Alden. 
They continued in office until the next April, when a new choice 
of officers was made in Quincy. In November, 1803, the senti- 
ments of the lodge appear to have been in favor of an organiza- 
tion in Quincy, as a committee was chosen, Avho presented a 
petition to the Rural Lodge of Randolph, to approve of a charter 
from them to establish a lodge in this town. 

This communication was referred to the next meeting ; antici- 
pating a favorable decision, all necessary arrangements were 
made to remove the charter to Quincy, and on the 28th of 

" And we do hereby declare the precedence of the said lodge, in the Grand 
Lodge and elsewhere, to commence from the eighth day of June, Anno Lucis, 
5801. 

"In testimony ivhereof, "We the Grand Master and Grand Wardens, by virtue 
of the power and aiithority to us committed, have hereunto set our hands, and 
caused the seal of the Grand Lodge to he atHxed at Boston, this eighth day of 
June, Anno Domini, 1801, and of Masonry, 5801. 

' ' John Boyle, Senior Grand Warden. 
"John Solev, Junior Grand Warden. 
" By order of the Grand Lodge, 

"John Troctok, Grand Secretary." 



SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 301 

November, 1803, it was voted to choose a joint committee to 
petition the Grand Lodge to remove the charter to Quincy. The 
following persons were selected on the part of Randolph : — Jona- 
than Wales, Jr., and Thomas F'rench, Jr. Who the committee 
were on the part of Quincy, we arc not able to state, as the rec- 
ords make no mention of them, neither is there any record of the 
petition. The petition was evidently favorably received by the 
Grand Lodge, as they ordered the following dispensatioii.^ 

The committee had a hall for their convocation arranged in 
Mr. William Baxter's house on School street, which stood on the 
same site as the present residence of Mr. Daniel Baxter. This 
house was removed several years ago to Phipps sti'cet. 

Here it was, on Dec. 2Gth, 1803, that Rural Lodge, of Quincy,' 
had their first meeting. At this meeting no business of great 
importance was transacted. The next convocation was held Feb. 
20th, 1804, or 5804 of Masonry. At this meeting eleven i)ersons, 
residents of Quincy, were admitted as members. Tlirce candi- 
dates were proposed, and four initiated. Not having the proper 
apparatus for transacting the business of the lodge, a committee 
was chosen to procure all necessary fixtures and tools. 

It was not until Sept. 19th, 1804, that the lodge was duly con- 
secrated^ with the proper elements of consecration : — Corn of 
nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and oil of joy. 

1. To all the Fraternity, to whom these presents shall come : — 

" Know ye, that on a petition preferred to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 
on the evening of the 12th day of December, 5803, (1803) by the oflicors and 
members of Rural Lodge, for permission to hold that lodge in future, in the 
town of Quincy, in the county of Norfolk,— which by the within charter, was 
established to be held at Randolph in said county : — 

" It was unanimously voted to grant the prayer of the petitioners; and that 
Rural Lodge should hereafter hold their meetings in the town of Quincy only." 

By order of the Most Worshijjful Grand Master. 

Attest,— John Puoctor, Grand Secretary. 

2. The following extract from the records, gives a full account of the instal- 
Kation and consecration of Rural Lodge :— "Sept. lUth, A. L., 5804. The lodge 
met at 8 A. M., and opened in ancient form, "for the purpose of consecrating 
said lodge in ample form." 

" Intelligence being received that the Grand Lodge w.as in readiness a com- 
mittee of seven, with their proper ofticers, accompanied by M. W. G. M. 
Thompson of N. II., with the band, proceeded to the room where the Grand 
Lodge were iu wailing, (they Laving been escorted thithor from Nepouset 



302 SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 

Several committees were busily engaged in the various duties 
assigned them, in making all proper arrangements for this 
important event. By order of the lodge, numerous special invi- 
tations were extended to the selectmen, clergymen of the 
town and others, as well as to the neighboring lodges. 

Aug. 25th, 1806. "Voted that a pair of grave-stones be 
erected to the memory of our deceased Brother, Jacob Niles." 

January 26th, 1809. "Bros. Josiah Bass, Lemuel Brackett, 
and Elisha Marsh wer« chosen a committee for the purpose of 
assisting distressed worthy brethren that may be on a journey, 
and through misfortune need assistance." 

April 18th, 1811. "Voted that the thanks of the lodge be 
presented to Worthy Past Master Savil, for the present of a very 
handsome sword." 

Jan. 11th, 1819. " Voted that the third article of the By-Laws 
be so altered, that clergymen may be initiated gratis." 

Nov. 14th, 1831. "Voted to invest two hundred dollars in 
the fund for building the Masonic Temple, Boston." 

May 14th, 1832. "Voted, that the committee to invest funds, 
I^urchase three shares of State Bank stock." 

bridge, where they were naet by a committee appointed for the purpose) to 
attend them to lodge room ; which duty being attended to, after the usual cere- 
monies, a procession was formed, "which consisted of a very large number of 
brothers, the clergymen and private citizens, among which were Hon. John 
Adams, Hon. John Q. Adams, Thomas B. Adams, Esq., Hon. Cotton Tufts of 
Weymouth, the Selectmen and Deacons of Quincy, etc. etc. 

"The procession then moved to the old Unitarian meeting-house, (which 
.'<tood on the site where the First Church now stands, ) with music, where the 
exercises were opened by Brother Thaddeus jNI. Harris, followed by music and 
a consecration discourse by Eev. Peter Whitney, from the following text, 
Bomaus XII : 17.,— "Provide things honest, in the sight of all men." After 
which the officers were installed in ample form. The services being over, the 
procession moved to the old Town Hall, where a sumptuous entertainment was 
provided by Brother Samuel Savil, which was partaken of with great satisfac- 
tion. Then the members of the Rural Lodge, returned to their hall, and voted 
their thanks to Rev. Mr. Whitney for his discourse, and requested a copy for 
publication. The lodge at this time consisted of thirty-five members, twenty- 
eight of Avhom were present on this interesting occasion." 

Dec. 10th, 1804. " Voted that the thanks of the officers and members of the 
lodge, be presented to Rev. Mr. Whitney for a copy of his address at the instal- 
lation, and that ho be presented with twenty dollars from the funds of the 
lodge." 



SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 303 

A committee appointed at tlie annual meeting in January, 
"to take into consideration the present state of Masonry, and of 
this lodge in particular," reported March 24th, 1834, as follows, 
viz : — 

"Having had several meetings on the subject, and having 
heard the sentiments of every member who is inclined to express 
his opinion, have thought best, under existing circumstances, to 
report that in their opinion, it is expedient for this lodge to sus- 
pend their convocations for the present, and therefore recommend 
that the regular meetings of this lodge be dispensed with until 
the first regular meeting in October." Accepted. At that time 
the Anti-Masonic excitement^ ran so high, that the Rural Lodge 
was obliged to surrender its charter.^ 

1. The Anti-Masonic excitement originated in the western part of the State 
of New York. It api^ears that a man by the name of William Morgan made 
ay effort to. expose Masonry by publishing v/hat he purported to be the first 
three degrees of the Masonic Fraternity. Being fearful that his misrepresenta- 
tions might cause him trouble, he suddenly disai)peared. This caused the com- 
munity, who are ever ready for excitement, to circulate the ridiculous storj^ that 
Morgan had been murdered bv the Free Masons. 

Politicians, ever ready to pick up any or every thing that may drift along to 
advance their schemes or projects, trumped up something resembling a human 
body. This they with great soleuniity paraded the streets, asserting it to be the 
last remains of Morgan, the martyr. This foolish and simple clap-trap and 
imposition created a storm of anti-masonic excitement which inflicted a blow 
upon the craft from which it has but quite recently recovered. " The humbug 
body was said by Thurlow Weed to be a good enough Morgan until after elec- 
tion." This party achieved considerable success in some of the Northern 
States, wliich led them to call the tirst national convention for the nomination 
of President and Vice I'resident, at Baltimore, in September, 1831, ever held in 
the United States. This political faction brought into public life William H. 
Seward and Millard Fillmore. 

2. " October '27th, 1834, a committee consisting of Brothers Lemuel Brackett, 
John Savil, Josiah Bass, Jonathan Marsh and Samuel Savil, were chosen to 
report what disposition the lodge would make of their funds in case of a dissolu- 
tion of the lodge." They reported November 3d, as follows, viz : — 

" That there be granted to Worthy Brother Samuel Savil, in trust for his son, 
Samuel Savil, Jr., .$20.00 ; Bro. Alpheus French, .'520.00 ; Bro. Elilui Thayer 
$20,00 ; Bro. Oliver Jenkins, .'$20.00 ; Bro. Asa Pope, S;20.00 ; Bro. William 
Goodwin, as compensation for services, .'$20, 00 ; the widow of Bro. Benjamin 
Vinton, .'gSO.OO ; the widow of Bro. William Pierce, Jr., $20.00 ; to William 
Blanchard, youngest son of Bro. Joseph Blanchard, deceased, $20.00 ; and the 
remainder of the funds together with the regalia or furniture of the lodge, be 



304 SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 

The lodge has held fifty communications at RandoliDh, and 
three hundred and seventy-one at Quincy. Initiated at Randolph 
fourteen ; crafted thirteen ; raised eighteen ; elected to meraber- 
shi]), eighteen ; exj^elled one. Initiated at Quincy fifty-seven ; 
crafted fifty-five ; raised fifty-three ; elected to membership 
fifty ; expelled one. 

For nineteen years the lodge was suspended, or until 1853, 
when the Kev. Mr. Dean, with a few of the old membei-s of the 

surrendered to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge ; and all the furniture except 
what we are in duty bound to surrender to the Grand Lodge, be left with 
Bro. Samuel Savil, as a compensation for his demands for rent, etc. 

And the committee recommend, if this report be accepted, that this lodge pass 
a vote to authorize the Treasurer to sell and transfer the three shares in the 
State Bank. 

"The committee recommended that there be a committee chosen to carry this 
report into effect. " The report was accepted, with the following amendments, 
viz : — "That there be granted to Bro. Benjamin Page $10, and Bro. Peter Tur- 
ner $5, and " the Treasurer was instructed as above." The same committee 
were chosen, "and authorized to receive from the Treasurer all the money in 
his hands," and " carry into full and complete effect the above report." 

" It was also voted that this lodge will surrender its charter to the Grand 
Lodge, together with the jewels, by-laws, records and regalia." 

"Voted that the Rt. Wor. Master be requested to invite the R. W. D. D. G. M. 
to make an official visit to this lodge next Monday evening, (Nov. lOth, 1834), 
and that he be authorized and directed to surrender, at that time, the charter of 
this lodge, together with the funds not otherwise disposed of, and the regalia, 
books, etc., belonging to the Grand Lodge." 

Nov. 10th, 1834, the above-mentioned committee reported, " that they had 
attended to the duty assigned them, and respectfully ask leave to report, that 
they have received from the Treasurer, ."fii207.4G; from the Secretary, 34.00; and 
they have placed in the hands of the Rt. Wor. Master for the i^ayment of the 
annual fee to the Grand Lodge, $4.00. They have also paid, or placed in the 
hands of brethren to be paid, the donations mentioned in the report and amend- 
ment, amounting to $205 ; and they have placed in the hands of the Rt. Wor. 
Master, to be by him surrendered to the Grand Lodge, the balance, $2.46. And 
Bro. Savil has agreed to receive all the effects of the lodge not otherwise dis- 
posed of, as a full compensation for his claims on Rural Lodge." 

Nov. 10th, 1834. "The lodge was visited by D. D. G. M., and the Master of 
Rural Lodge surrendered to him the charter, regalia, etc." 

The following is an inventory of effects surrendered to Grand Lodge: — 

"Holy Bible, square and compass, charter in case, 3 brass lightstands, 
seal of the lodge, 1 painted Masonic carpet, 13 collars and jewels in a trunk, 
G long wands, ballot box and balls, 2 pillars and Warden's wands, velvet 
cushion, silk bag, Master's mallet, 3 books of records, 1 book of by-laws, 1 
receipt for $200, cash, $2.4G." 



S0CIETIB8 IN GENERAL. 305 

Rural Lodge, and other Masons who had settled in Quincy since 
the dissolution of this organization were anxious to again revive 
the ancient customs of the Masonic rites. Considering the time 
favorable for the purpose, as there had been a great change of 
public opinion in favor of Free Masonry, they petitioned^ the 
Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, on the 14tli of 
September of this year, for a revival of the lodge ; it being their 
last quarterly communication. 

The prayer of the petitioners was granted and the charter 
restored.^ 

A meeting of the petitioners was held on the evening of Sep- 
tember 29th, at Abercrombie's now Bent's Hall, and after con- 
sultation, it Avas agreed to go into an election of the three pre- 
siding officers, which resulted in the choice of W. M., Lemuel 
Dwelle ; S. W., John Savil ; J. W., Asa Pope. The election of 
the other officers was postponed to a future meeting. 

A Master Mason's Lodge was then opened in the usual man- 
ner, it being the first time in this town for nearly nineteen years. 

1. "To the. Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Ma- 

sons of 3fassachnsetts : — 

"Brethren: — Conceiving that the moral taint which pervaded the atmos. 
phere in this vicinity in years past, has entirely passed away, and believing 
that the time has arrived when we can safely and profitably resume the labor^ 
of the craft without molestation, 

" We therefore pray your honorable body to restore to the undersigned the 
charter, records, jewels, funds and other property of Kural Lodge, which were 
surrendered to the Grand Lodge during the persecution which compelled them 
to pursue this course. A constitutional nuiuber of said petitioners were mem- 
bers of said Rural Lodge at the time of the surrender of its charter. 

"Should their petition be granted, the rules and regulations of the Grand 
Lodge will be strictly adhered to. Signed, 

"John Savil, Elisha Turner, Asa Pope, 

Daniel French, Josiah Haxtor, Elijah Baxter, 

Elihu Thayer, Lemuel Dwelle, "NVm. W. Dean." 

2. The following endorsement was received from the Grand Lodge: — 

" Grand Lodge ok Massachusetts, Boston, Sept. 15th, 5853. 
" I hereby certify, that on the petition of the constitutional number of the 
former members of the within-named Rural Lodge, this charter was revived 
and restored to said petitioners, with authority to reorganize and resume their 
work as a lodge in the town of Quincy, possessing and enjoying all their origi- 
nal rights and privileges. 

"Chmiles W. Moobe, Grand Secretary." 

40 



306 SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 

Resolutions were passed, admitting the petitioners for the charter 
to membership Avithout the payment of the usual fee ; also all 
the members in good standing in the lodge at the time it was 
dissolved, with all such brethren as may be elected or appointed 
to office at the organization of the lodge. 

Four petitions were received at this meeting for degrees, and 
the Worshipful Master was instructed " to procure such working 
tools and furniture as will be necessary for working in the 
degrees." 

Oct. 6th, a communication was held. A disiDensation was re- 
ceived from J. V. C. Smith, D. D. G.M., authorizing the Worship- 
ful Master to confer the three degrees of Masonry, at his earliest 
convenience, upon the candidates proposed at the last meeting. 

The next meeting was held on the evening of Oct. 11th, 1853. 
The Worshipful Master was installed and proceeded to initiate 
three of the candidates. 

Thus was completed the revival of the Rural Lodge. May 
it continue to remain a worthy member of this honorable 
fraternity, and adhere to the noble symbols, T. G. A. O. T. TJ., 
"The Grand Architect of the Universe." 

The St. Stephen's Chapter of Dorchester district, of Boston, 
have transferred their chapter and paraphernalia to the lodge 
rooms of the Rural Lodge, of Quincy. The first convocation 
was held in Quincy, Tuesday evening, April 23d, 1878. 

The first lodge-room, as we have before stated, was in the 
house of William Baxter, on School street; and was used as 
such until January, 1825, when it was removed to a hall fitted up 
by Worthy Brother Samuel Savil, in his residence on Hancock 
street, which was occupied by them until they surrendered their 
charter in November, 1834. 

On the revival of the lodge, Sept. 29th, 1853, they assembled 
in Abercrombie's, afterwards Masonic Hall, where they held 
their communications until they removed to Robertson's Hall, 
on Hancock street, corner of Granite, in which hall they contin- 
ued to meet until it was destroyed by fire, Aug. 26th, 1875. By 
this fire they lost all their furniture, regalia and jewels. While 
their present lodge-room was rebuilding, they held their com- 
munications in Abercrombie's Hall, by invitation of St. Paul's 



SOCIETIES IN" GE?^ERAL. 307 

Lodge, No. 37, Knights of Pythias. Their new lodge-room in 
Robertson's Block was dedicated Nov. 23d, 1876, and is as well 
furnished and constructed a room as can be found in. the neigh- 
borhood of Boston.^ 



There have been, and are now, a number of other charitable 
and social secret societies in town. Between 1840 and 1850, a 
large and flourishing Odd Fellows Lodge existed, and held 
their meetings in Bent's Hall, where their lodge-room was loca- 
ted. It has been disbanded for some years. 

The St. Paul's Lodge, No. 37, Knights of Pythias, was organ- 
ized April 13th, 1870, and their officers were installed by persons 
delegated by the Grand Lodge for this purpose, and is now a 
large and successful institution. Their meetings are held in a 
fine and pleasant lodge-room on Hancock street, over the Post 
Office. 

There are several temperance organizations in Quincy, viz : — 
The Good Templars, or Reynolds Lodge ; the Quincy Reform 
Club; the Granite Temple of Honor; and the St. John's and 
St. Mary's Total Abstinence Societies. The two latter were 
organized by adopted citizens, and connected with them are two 
corps of youthful temperance cadets in uniform, who are drilled 
in military exercises by competent persons. The Granite Tem- 
ple of Honor is the highest association in the order, and was 
organized Dec. 14th, 1876. Its meetings are held in Bent's Hall, 
on Washington street. A ladies' temperance society, called the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, hold their meetings in 
Faxon Hall. The Young People's Temperance Union, an organ- 
ization for the young, was formed in March, 1877. It meets in 
Faxon Hall. 

The Merry Mount Lodge, or I^ights of Honor, is a secret 
charitable order, recently fonned in this place, which is in a 
prosperous condition. 

The Quincy Cliaritable Society is an old and worthy associa- 
tion, and for years has freely relieved the wants and sufferings 



1. This account of the Rural Lodge was compiled from Mr, E. W. Uuder- 
wood's history of this institution. 



308 SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 

of all needy and worthy applicants of the town, who may have 
called upon them for assistance. 

There are two large public charitable institutions in Quincy, 
the oldest of which is the Sailors' Snug Harbor. The corner- 
stone of this edifice was laid July 14th, 1856, with appropriate 
exercises. We have in a note^ given the fine poem composed 
and delivered by Dr. Lunt on this occasion. This poem was 
dedicated to Robert B. Forbes, who has done so much disinter- 
ested work for the comfort and welfare of the sailors, and is 

1. " On this green headland, where in summer pride 
Waits for her ocean-lord his lovely bride, 
And stretches far her neck, with amourous reach, 
To invite caresses on the lonely beach. 
Fair Commerce builds a Home for those whose toil 
Has fetched the golden fleece from foreign soil; 
The neighboring mart, whose white- winged navies sweep 
Through every zone that belts the boundless deep — 
Divides a portion of her well-used gain, 
With those who reaped the harvest on the main. 

" Here may the veteran mariner repose. 
When on his craft the life-storm fiercely blows; 
Here let him turn a-port, and, furling sail. 
Run for a Harbor through the driving gale; 
Here, rounding to, drop anchor near the shore. 
And ride in safety till life's voyage is o'er. 
From cape to cape, search round our noble bay — 
No lovelier sight that here can eye survey ; 
From yonder hill,* when sunset's blazing sheen 
Sets in a golden frame the pictured scene, 
Let the eye wander freely as it will. 
Landward or seaward, all is beauty still. 

"The Sachem of the bay, by Squantum's shore, 
Held o'er his feathered warriors sway, of yore; 
There stood his wigwam in the hummock's shade, 
There the maize-tassels with the breezes played. 
There the red hunter chased the antlered game — 
Thence Massachusettsf took her honored name. 



* u 



' Great Hill, the termination of a strip of land called Hough's Neck, from 
Allerton Hough, one of the original settlers of Boston, who had a grant of land 
at Mount Wollaston." 

t "The hill, or hummock, still called Sachem's Hill, lies in the northerly part 
of what is now Quincy, near Squantum, and tradition points it out as the seat 
of the Sachem who ruled the Massachusetts Indians." 



SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 309 

recognized by them as their noblest benefactor. This quiet port 
for the old, worn out and decrcjiid mariner, is located in that 
pleasant part of Quincy called Germantown, near the water, 
where tranquility and comfort awaits him; from the windows 
of this retired home he will be daily delighted in watching the 
numerous fleet of every size and clime, as they sail forth on 

" To Fancy's eye, these verdant necks* of laud 
Seem as the fingers of an outstretched hand. 
The genius of the place here stands to greet 
The faint sea-wanderers to this calm retreat; 
Here let them watcb, as on the neighboring strandt 
The brave ship grows beneath the builder's hand, 
Till, all complete, she cleaves the yielding lide, 
And walks the water with a graceful pride. 
Here let them follow to the gates of day 
The trade fleets speeding on their outward way; 
Or, in the ofling, spy the distant sail 
Nearing the haven with propitious gale— 
The Clipper, white-robed lady of the main ; 
The sea-horse, snorting o'er the liquid plain; 
The mighty admiral, equipped for war. 
Her hundred voices thundering ocean's law; 
Or, better far, some "Jamestown," outward bound, 
On cruise of mercy to a foreign ground ; 
Unshipped her battle-gear, with warm hearts manned, 
Freighted with plenty for a starving land. 

" Such sights relieve the woful shapes that lie 
Crowded within the sailor's memorj- — 
The mingled uproar of the sea and sky, 
' The direful spectacle of wreck,' the cry 
Of the spent swimmer in his agony. 

" And when the ancient mariner shall see 
The gloomy waters of eternity, 
And in liis need, despairing help below, 
Call for a pilot's skill to steer him through. 
Then may that form benign, whose power to save 
Held trembling Peter steady on the wave. 
Conduct the trusting soul in safety o'er 
To a Snug Harbor on the heavenly shore! " 



*"There are five of these necks belonging to Quincy. Beginning on the 
north with Squautum, the next is Hough's Neck; then Germantown, originally 
Shed's Neck; then Quincy Point, and, still further soutli, Knight's Neck." 

t "AtQuincy Point, opposite Geriiiantown, and within a short distance of 
the Snug Harbor, ship-building is carried on." 



310 SOCIETIES IN GENERAL. 

their uncertain voyages, or, in spying distant sails in the offing, 
homeward bound to be greeted by affectionate and loved friends. 
This noble, beneficent and charitable corporation has been a 
great blessing in relieving the wants and naaking comfortable 
the declining days of old Neptune's followers, who have spent 
the more active part of their lives in the mercantile marine 
service. 

Feb. 9th, 1865, "George B. Upton, Alexander H. Rice, James 
L. Little, their associates and successors, were made a corpora- 
tion by the name of the National Sailors' Home, for the purpose 
of establishing and maintaining in the Commonwealth a home 
for sailors, mariners and others, employed in the naval service 
of the United States, disabled by wounds, sickness, old age or 
otherwise, without regard to their place of enlistment or na- 
tivity." 

The building was erected in 1865, on or near Fenno street. 
It is a large wooden structure, containing a library, sick wards 
and all other modern improvements for the comfort of the in- 
mates. This institution has been very successful in carrying out 
the design for Avhich it was constructed. It is now under the 
superintendence of William L. Faxon, M. D. 

The first literary association that we have any account of, Avas 
the Quincy Lyceum, established about 1829. This society, at 
one time, was a very prosperous and useful institution. For a 
number of years it held public discussions upon the prominent 
events of the day. It also furnished the citizens, for their winter 
amusement, able lectures upon various important and instructive 
questions of the times. After its dissolution, the Adams Literary 
Association was established, and held their interesting meetings 
in a hall over where the Savings Bank is now located, on Han- 
cock street. This society Avas dissolved some years since. The 
libraries of these two literary bodies, after their demise, were 
presented to the Public Library. 

The Union Choral Society, during its existence, was very pop- 
ular with the community. On all public and private occasions, 
it was called upon to furnish the citizens of Quincy, at their cel- 
ebrations, with vocal music. In this association was to be found 
all the best and finest miisical talent of the town. 



SOCIETIES IX GENERAL. 311 

At tlie close of the late civil war, the returned soldiers formed 
a secret charitable association for the mutual benefit of their 
comrades. This organization is known as the Paul Revere Post, 
No. 88, Grand Army of the Republic. 

Orange lodges were formed about the 27th of Sept., 1795, to 
commemorate the battle of the Dimond, fought in Armagh 
County, North of Ireland, on the 21st of September, between 
the " Peep-o-day Boys " and the " Defenders." For some years 
an Orange lodge has existed in this town, and we believe it still 
survives. 

The first Young Friends Catholic Society was organized in 
1852, and held their meetings in the St. John's Church, before 
it was completed. This organization was finally emerged into 
the Saint Patrick's, which was established for their mutual im- 
provement. Their library was in Blake's Hall, near the Public 
Library, on Hancock street, where their meetings were held. 
The members losing their interest in the meetings of the associ- 
ation, and the want of funds, were the main causes why they 
were obliged to suspend their meetings. The society still con- 
tinues in a lifeless and inanimate condition. 



SCHOOLS. 



Next to the formation and organization of the church by the 
first settlers of the town, was the establishment of our schools. 
This, they considered coeval and coexistent with their religious 
institutions in protecting them from the " wily devices of Satan," 
as will be seen by the first section of the earliest law enacted by 
the colonists for public education : — 

" It being one chief project of the auld deluder, Satan, to keep 
men from the knowledge of the scriptures, as in former times 
keeping them in unknown tongues, so in these latter times by 
persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true 
sense and meaning of the original might be clouded and corrupted 
with false glosses of deceivers, to the end that learning may not 
be buried in the graves of our forefathers in church and common- 
wealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors. 

" It is therefore ordered by this court and authority thereof, 
that every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath 
increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then 
forthwith appoint one within their town to teacli all such chil- 
dren as shall resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall 
be paid either by the parents or masters of such children^ or by 
the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part 
of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; 
provided that those who send their children be not oj^pressed by 
paying much more than they can have them taught for in other 
towns. In May, 1647, every town having the requisite number 
of householders was required to ' set uj) ' a school of a higher 
order — a Grammar school — where the youth might be fitted for 
' ye university.'^ 

1. The following literary qualifications were required to euter ' ' ye university. " 
This order of the college was in full force as early as 1G47. 
" When any scholar is able to read Tully, or such like classical Latin author 



SCHOOLS. 813 

"Forasmuch as it greatly concerns the welfare of this country, 
tliat the youtli thereof be educated, not only in good literature, 
but in sound doctrine, this court doth therefore commend it to 
the serious consideration and special care of our overseers of the 
college, and the Selectmen in the several towns, not to admit or 
suffer any such to be continued in the office or place of teaching, 
educating or instructing, youth or children in the colleo-e or 
schools, that have manifested themselves unsound in the faith, 
or scandalous in their lives, and have not given satisfaction 
according to the rule of Christ." 

The schools of that day Avere neither financially, nor ecclesias- 
tically free, nor by statute were they required to be. Probably 
the town was not able to sustain free schools, for she demanded 
a tuition for the education of her children, as will be seen by the 
votes passed by the inhabitants requiring a certain contribution 
of wood, and payment of money, for the tuition of the scholars. 
The amount, indeed, was small, but small as it appears to have 
been, it was an onerous and severe tax upon the inhabitants of 
the town in their poverty, who found it very difficult, by the 
most economical habits, to procure the most common necessaries 
of life. 

March 3d, 1679. At a public town meeting it was " voted in 
the affirmative that Mr. Benjamin Tompson, school-master, shall 
have for his salary this year, the rent of the town's land, made 
up to thirty pounds." And it was also agreed that every child 
should carry in to the school-master half a cord of Avood besides 
the quarter money every year. 

May 13th, 1700. At a public town meeting, the inhabitants of 
Braintree, lawfully convened, "voted that for the year ensuing, 
that is to say, from August 18th next ensuing, every scholar 
shall pay for his entry into the school one shilling, and so suc- 
cessively for every quarter, and this shall be a part of the school 

extempore, and speak true Latin in verso and prose sus (ut aiunt) marte, and 
decline perfectly the paradigms of nouns and verbs in the Greek tongue, then 
may he be admitted into college, nor shall any claim admission before such 
qualification." It was about this period that the public Latin school was 
established in Braintree. Who the teacher was we do not know. It may have 
been in this school that Mr. Heujaniin Tompson, who was the first recorded 
schoolmaster in this town, prepared for college. 

41 



314 SCHOOLS. 

salary to be paid unto the school-master, and he to give an 
account of all that comes, to the Selectmen." 

In 1701, the payment of the teacher's salary was in j^art by the 
scholars, and the balance by a direct town tax. 

Sept. 26th, 1701. "Voted, that the rent of the town lands 
formerly paid to the school, shall continue as part of the salary ; 
that the parent or master that shall send any scholar or scholars 
to said school, shall pay for each scholar to the Town Treas- 
urer for the support of school, five shillings a year, and pro- 
portionably for any part of it ; that any person or persons living 
out of the town, who shall send any scholar or scholars to the 
aforesaid school, shall pay twenty shillings a year to the Town 
Treasurer, and proportionally for any part of it ; that any poor 
person in this town who shall send any children to said school, 
and find themselves unable to pay, upon their ajjplication to the 
Selectmen, it shall be in their power to abate or remit a part or 
the whole of the above sum; that Avhat the rent of the town 
lands and the head money of the scholars shall fall short of the 
school-master's salary, shall be raised by a town rate, equally 
proportioned upon the inhabitants of the town." 

Dec. 26th, 1715. " Voted, that the parents and masters of 
all children or servants that go to school, shall forthwith, that 
is to say, upon the first or next appearance at the school, and so 
from this day until the first of April next coming, deliver in to 
the present school-master, for the use of the school at the school- 
house, three feet of wood, to be the proportion for each child or 
servant for this year." 

Thus it will be seen that the schools were not free at this 
time, but somewhat mixed in their character with regard to the 
manner and method of payment. The custom of demanding 
payment from pupils for schooling continued in vogue for many 
years, or to about 1720; from this time the schools of this town 
became financially free. 

It appears by reading the Colonial, Provincial and State his- 
tory of Massachusetts, that the ecclesiastical and parochial ele- 
ment in these nurseries of education, was continued to their 
disadvantage to a much later period. The teachers at that time 
had to be selected from the Orthodox sect, so called, and 



SCHOOLS. 315 

ap))roved by the ministers of the town, and the ministers of the 
same faith of the two next adjacent towns; and no minister was 
allowed to be a school-master. It was over two centuries before 
this religious oppression was, by an enactment stricken from the 
statute book. Still to a great extent this statute had become 
obsolete, as will be seen by the following statement, made by 
Mr. Horace Mann in his twelfth annual report on the state of 
education in Massachusetts: — "The history of Massachusetts 
shows by what slow degrees the rigor of our own laws was 
relaxed, as the day star of religious freedom slowly arose after 
the long black midnight of the j^ast. It was not until the tentli 
day of IMavch, 1827, that it was made unlawful to use the com- 
mon schools of the State as the means of proselyting children to 
the belief in the doctrines of particular sects, whether their 
parents believed in those doctrines or not." 

In this town, the parochial element was eliminated from our 
schools at a much earlier period ; in fact, there was very little, if 
any, religious proselyting left in them after 1700. From that 
time, the pul)lic schools became liberal and free, so much so was 
this the case, that they were sought after by persons from other 
towns, for their liberality and high educational standing. The 
catechism, one of the principal text books, had been discarded 
and the old primer was little in use, as most persons had become 
sufficiently imbued with its cardinal text : — " In Adam's fall, we 
sinned all." Up to 1740, a century after the incorporation of 
the town, forty-nine persons entered college for a university edu- 
cation, forty-seven of whom were from the First Church ; a 
larger number than has since received a liberal education, in 
comparison with the same number of inhabitants in the same 
space of time. 

On the worn and tattered first page of the old Braintree town 
records, we find the copy of a conveyance, which gave to Brain- 
tree, (now Quincy,) a large tract of territory, the income of 
which has ever since been held for the benefit of the public 
schools.^ Who was this earliest benefactor? It was Mr. Wil- 

1. "April ]8tli, 1792, the question of dividing the school lands came up. 
After some debate, it was agreed between the two towns, Braintree and Quincy, 
that the whole subject should be referred to a committee, The committee 



316 SCHOOLS. 

liara Coddington, a man who deserves to be remembered by the 
present and future inhabitants of the town. Mr. Coddington 
was a man of high respectability and of good intellect; but 
because he dared to advocate a religious doctrine, which to-day 
would be considered but a common belief, he was forced to leave 
the colony. Mr. Coddington, soon after he removed to Rhode 
Island, through his agent, Mr. Richard Wright, gave his large 
landed estate, comprising what is now the town farm, the Mount 
WoUaston Cemetery, and meadow land at Rock Island, to the 
town of Braintree for the purpose of establishing and supporting 
the public schools, in order that future generations might reap 

appointed on the part of Braintree was as follows, viz: — John Vinton, Stephen 
Penniman, Nathaniel Niles, Jr., Samuel Bass, Ebenezer Thayer, Jr. On the 
part of Quincy the following persons were selected :— Peter B. Adams, James 
Brackett and Moses Black. The essential abstract of their reports read as fol- 
lows : — 

" One piece of upland adjoining land of Brackett, Black, Baxter and Quincy, 
containing 43 acres, 3 quarters, 23 rods, exclusive of the road ; also, one other 
piece of upland containing 9 acres, at Rock Island ; also, one piece of salt 
marsh adjoining the upland at Rock Island, containing 9 acres and 3 quarters ; 
also, two pieces of upland lying at German town, between Norton Quincy' s, Esq., 
and Peter Bicknell's, containing 52 1-2 acres, exclusive of a road 2 rods 
wide ; also, a piece of salt marsh, adjoining on the east side of the north piece 
of upland at Germantown, containing 10 acres, 1 quarter, 32 rods ; also, one 
other piece of salt marsh lying on the west side of said north piece of upland at 
Germantown, containing 4 acres. After enumerating the several pieces of land 
that belonged to this grant, the commission proceeded to make the division of 
this estate, and were very careful not to divide the lots ; but each party was to 
take the lot as assigned them on the plan. Each town's share was based on the 
town's property or valuation. The following is the division agreed upon : — 
"The piece of upland containing 43 acres, 3 quarters, 23 rods, adjoining land of 
Brackett, Black, Baxter and Quincy, was assigned to the town of Quincy ; the 
upland at Rock Island, was also assigned to Quincy ; the piece of salt marsh 
adjoining the upland at Rock Island was assigned to the town of Braintree ; 
the two pieces of upland lying at Germantown containing 52 1-2 acres, and the 
piece of salt marsh lying, east of the northerly piece of upland, was assigned to 
Braintree ; and the piece of salt marsh containing by estimation 4 acres, lying 
on the west side of the north piece of upland at Germantown, was assigned to 
Quincy. Subsequently, another division was made between Braintree and Ran- 
dolph, at the time Randolph was set off from Braintree as an independent town- 
ship. Randolph after receiving their share of the Coddington grant, sold it, 
from the proceeds of which, they still have a school fund in their treasury, 
amounting to .filCOO. The salt marsh that was allotted to them, they .still hold, 
9,nd it is valued at five hundred dollars." 



SCHOOLS. 317 

the benefit of a liberal education, and thus see the folly of 
ex-communicating from society, individuals for their honest 
religious opinions. The income of this munificent bequest has 
been used to advance the interest of education in this town from 
that time to this. The first vote that we find on the town rec- 
ords in reference to the appropriation of this fund, is in Februa- 
ry, 1658, viz : — " That the town of Braintree did consent to lay 
the school lands, that is to say, the income of it, for a salary for 
a school-master, and to make twenty pounds, besides Avhat every 
child must give." 

The school district system was a germ of the old Provincial 
law of 1767.^ In 1789 an act was passed to establish district 
lines for the better instruction and the " promotion of educa- 
tion." This law did not however make them a cor])oration, nor 
authorize them to furnish school-houses, elect officers, contract 
with teachers, not a single duty of this kind Avas imposed upon 
the districts. It Avas not until 1799 that a statute was enacted 



1. Whereas, it may happen that, where towns or districts consist of several 
precincts, some of such precincts may be disposed to expend more for the 
instruction of children and youth in useful learning, within their own bounds, 
than as parts of such towns or districts they are by law held to do, and no pro- 
vision has hitherto been made to enable precincts to raise money for that purpose, 
and wliereas the encouragement of learning tends to the promotion of religion 
and good morals, and the establishment of liberty, civil and religious. 

Be it therefore enacted, by the governor, council and house of representatives, 
that when and so often as the major part of the inhabitants of any precinct, at 
their annual meeting legally warned, shall agree on the building, linishiiig or 
repairing of any school-house, or the defraying any other cliarge for the support 
of schools and school-masters, and shall also agree on any sum or sums of 
money for such purpose or purposes, the Assessors of such precinct are hereby 
empowered and required to assess the same on the polls and estates within tiic 
said precinct, and all such rates or assessments shall be paid to the constable or 
collector to whom the same shall be committed, with a warrant from said 
Assessors in form as bylaw is prescribed for collecting of town assessments, and 
every constable or collector to whom any such rates or assessments shall be 
committed, with a warrant as aforesaid, sliall levy, gather and receive the same 
according to the direction in the warrant to him given, and shall account for all 
such sums as he shall so receive, and make payment of the same to the treas- 
urer of such precinct or other receiver as by warrant he shall be required, and 
be subject to the pains and penalties in case of neglect, as is bj' law provided in 
the several acts of this province, respecting the levying and collecting of other 
precinct assessments. Geouoe III,— 8. 



318 SCHOOLS. 

authorizing the Selectmen to issue a warrant for district meet- 
ings. Tlie legal voters were instructed to choose a district clerk, 
raise money for the erection and repairs of school-houses, and 
the purchase of all necessary utensils. The Assessors of the 
respective towns were required to assess such sums of money as ' 
might be voted by the several districts. In 1817, a statute was 
enacted that school districts should be made a corporation in 
name, and authoi'ized to sue and be sued, and empowered to hold 
in fee simple or otherwise, real or personal estate for the use of 
the schools. 

In 1827, a statute was enacted which gave the district the 
privilege of electing a prudential committee of one or more per- 
sons, and consigned to them the important trust of contracting 
and engaging teachers. The first vote that we find on the town 
records instructing the several districts to contract with teachers 
was in 1831. The prudential system never was in full force in 
this town, for the reason that the town of Quincy always con- 
structed her school-houses instead of the districts, which obviated 
and set aside this unjust and obnoxious portion of the law, 
which gave the rich districts the advantage over their poorer 
neighbors in constructing better and more commodious houses. 
This law caused a great deal of conflict and trouble between the 
school and prudential committees until it wns abolished in 1869, 
by statute. Several of the districts in this town voluntarily 
gave up the district system several years before this statute was 
enacted ; the South or Adams, and the Willard, continued until 
dissolved by this enactment. 

In 1826, the first statute was enacted, obliging the tOAvns in 
the State to choose yearly a school committee. Previous to that 
time the election of school committees was optional, but in a 
great many cases they were designated, or appointed by the 
town. In Quincy, however, they were ai)pointed or elected by 
the town from its first incorporation. Previous to 1837, there 
had been no special attention given to the schools of the State, 
at this time a statute was enacted for the jnirpose of organizing 
and establishing a Board of Education, which wrought a great 
and favorable change in the advancement of education in the 
Commonwealth ; and also a complete revolution in the system of 



SCHOOLS. 319 

public instruction, by directing school committees in tlic various 
cities and towns of the State, to present a detailed account of 
the school to the town or city, and obliging tliem to send a copy 
of their report to the Board of Education, that it might publish 
extracts from them in their annual report. As far as we are able 
to ascertain, the first school committee rej^ort read in open town 
meeting in the State was not until 1830. The yearly choice of 
school committees was found, or thought to be found detrimen- 
tal to the progress of education, by the limited time of service. 
To obviate this difliculty, the State in 1857, enacted a statute 
extending the number of years for which they were to serve to 
three, instead of one. 

Who the first school-teacher was in Braintree we are not able 
to say. The town records do not make any mention of a teacher 
being selected until 1678, and that was Mr. Benjamin Tonip- 
son, son of the first clergyman. By profession Mr. Tompson was 
a physician, and is supposed to have been the first practising 
physician in Braintree. In urgent cases he was obliged to close 
his school to attend to his professional duties. In 1696, we find 
him acting as Town Clerk. The amount of salary Mr. Tompson 
received for teaching, may be judged from the following vote of 
the town, passed at a town meeting held March 8d, 1678: — 

" It Avas voted in the affirmative that Mr. Benjamin Tompson, 
school-master, shall have this year for his salary the rent of the 
town land made up to thirty pounds, and that the town give him 
a piece of land to put a house upon on the common, to be set 
out by Joseph Crosby and Christopher Webb, not exceeding an 
acre and a half, or there about, and in case he leaves the town 
the land to return to the town, they paying for his building and 
fencing as it is then Avorth ; but if he die in tlie town's service 
as school-master, the land to be his heirs forever." 

In 1699, there arose a controversy between Mr. Tompson and 
the town, in reference to the payment of his salary. The town 
appointed a committee to settle all differences between them, 
and to protect and defend tlie town, in case Mr. Tompst)n pros- 
ecuted it for his salary. 

March 4th, 1699, — " Voted by the inhabitants of Braintree law- 
fully convened that John Kuggles, Sen., Deacon Nathaniel 



320 SCHOOLS. 

N Wales and Lt. Samuel Penniman should be a committee appoint- 
ed and empowered to treat and make up the account with Mr. 
Benjamin Tompson, and to defend the town, if in case he jirose- 
cutes us in course of law." 

May 13th, 1700,—" Voted that Mr. Benjamin Tompson should 
have five pounds in money allowed him by the town, he acquit- 
ting and fully discharging ye town, for the time past, and also 
that John Ruggles, Sen., and Lt. Samuel Penniman should go 
and make the tender thereof unto him." 

A final settlement of this trouble was made July 29th, 1700, 
when Mr. Tompson received the money and acquitted the town 
of the demand by the following receipt: — " Whereas^ — There 
had been an old reckoning upon ye account of my services for 
many years, which I have served them, that all may issue in 
love, and all other matters of difference ended, and all former 
accounts balanced, upon their clearing debt to Jonathan Hay ward 
and Mr. Willard, in all being five pounds, I do forever acquit 
and discharge the town of Braintree from all dues and demands, 
this being a mutual and everlasting discharge." June 1st, 1703, 
Mr. Tompson was again engaged to keep school. May 16th, 1704, 
he was re-engaged to teach school, and this appears to have been 
the last of Mr. Tompson's teaching in this town. 

Mr. Tompson was an eminent and learned man, and besides 
teaching and the practice of medicine, he engaged in writing 
poetry^ on different occasions and subjects. He was also an 
eccentric and high-spirited person, as the following lamentation 
on the unsuccessful attempt to establish a family in this new 
country would seem to indicate : — 

1. The following extract taken from a poem by Mr. Tompson, on the death 
of tlie Eev. Samuel Whiting, is said by Mr. Winthrop to have been the best 
one iu Cotton Mather's Magnalia: — 

"Mount, Fame, the glorious chariot of the sun; 
Througli the world's cirque all you, her heralds, run; 
And let this great saint's merits be revealed. 
Which, during life, he studiously coucealed. 
Cite all the Levites, fetch the sons of art — 
In these our dolours to sustain a jJart. 
Warn all that value worth, and every one 
Within their eyes to bring an Helicon. 



Schools. 321 

" To his Excellency^ Sr Edmund Andros Knight, Governor and 
Capt. General of all his Majesty's territories in New Eng- 
land: — 
"The most humble Petition of Benjamin Tompson, Physician 
and School Maister of the town of Braintrey, Showing that Your 
poor Supplicant's father, a divine of good note, declaring it was 
not lands he came for, lived and died with his heart always 
above worldly things, his not begging as others did, others of far 
inferior note, being vastly accommodated, puts mee, who have a 
numerous race, upon this essay. Not having found yr Excellen- 
cy averse thereunto, I therefore humbly begge part of the lands 
to mee demised by the towne, viz : — Twenty acres of upland 
fit for pasturage only, lying between Mr. Shejoard's Farme and 
the towne. As also twelve Acres of Salt Marish by mee this year 
demised to Capt. Samuel White, Also, one or two hundred Acres 
of Wilderness land, bounded Southerly with land Petitioned by 
Samuel Niles, the Roade Running thorow the same. I know 
not any other way to gaine a lasting acknowledgement of my 
father's and his orphan's service in the towne. I am also hereby 
willing to shroud my person, my children and my estate under 
the umbrage of our gracious Sovereigne, and shall seasonably 
bring in an account of the small shreds of land I have, that I 

For in this single person we have lost 
More riches than an India has engrost. 

New England, didst thou know this mighty one, 
His weiglit and worth, thou'dst think thyself undone; 
One of thy golden chariots, which, among 
The clergy, rendered thee u thousand strong; 
One who, for learning, wisdom, grace and years, 
Among the Levites hath not many i)eers; 
One, yet with fiod a kind of heavenly band, 
"Who did whole regiments of woes Avithstand; 
One that prevailed with heaven; one greatly mist, 
On earth, he gained of Christ whate'er he list; 
One of a world — who was both burn and bred 
At wisdom's feet, hard by tli(3 fountain's head. 
The loss of such an one would fetch a tear 
From Niobe herself, if she were here. 

AVhat (jualifies our grief, centers in this— 
I5e our loss near so great, the (juia is his. 

42 



322 SCHOOLS. 

may obtain a patent thereof. Which granted, I shall owne yr 
Excellency the Great Maecenas and rebuilder of my decaying 
family. And as it is my duty myself, teaching my children for- 
ever to pray our dread sovereign's subject. 

Your Excellency's Faithful Servant, 

Benjamin Tompson. 
"9 Junis, Calendas. 
1688. 

" Annoq Eegni Regis Jacobis Secuudi tertio, 
Mag, Brit, Angl, Scot, Frauc and Hib, tidei defensoris, &c." 

Mass. Arch., Vol. CXXVIII, p. 247. 

"Honoured Sr: — 

" I cannot, unless^ I relinquish my employ, which is meane and 
Incouragements meaner, prosecute my petition as I ought to 
doe; But it would bee the highest incivility and ingratitude 
not to owne his Exc'k Indulgency therein. If my petition 
bee arrived yr hands, I begge of you a writt to the Surveyr, 
and I hope to obtaine the disireable hand usual to soulifie it, and 
In all other things intend a full and Customary prosecution as 
far as purse and my small interests amounts unto. Meane time 
I most humbly kiss yr hand. 

His Majesty's Faithfull Subject and 

Yr Honor's Friend and Servant, 

Benjx^min Tompson. 
"April 4, 1689. 

"The petition I hereby intend is my last petition." Mass. 
Arch., Vol. CXXIX, p. 357. 

Mr. Tompson's chirography was superior to the majority of 
school-teachers of the present day. Although able to teach 
others to write, he appears to have been unable to educate his 
wife in this useful art, as she signs her name with a cross. 

Mr. Benjamin Tompson was born in Braintree, July 14th, 1642, 
and graduated at Harvard College, in 1662. The town records 
make the following mention of his decease : — " Mr. Tompson was 
a practitioner of physic for about thirty years ; during which 
time he kept a Grammar school in Boston, Charlestown and 
Braintree ; having left behind him an uneasy world, eight chil- 



SCHOOLS. 323 

dren, twenty-eight grandchiklren. Decensecl 13th of April, 1714, 
and lieth buried in Roxbury, aged 72 yeara.^" 

During the intervals, or when Mr, Tompson had his eccentric 
turns, other teachers taught here. Aug. 18th, 1699, Mr. Nathan- 
iel Eells came to Braintree as the town's school-master. May 
13th, 1700, "Voted that the Selectmen be appointed and empow- 
ered a committee to treat and agree with Mr. Eells, and if he 
refuse, some other person for the school-master the year ensu- 
ing." He however, does not seem to have remained long, as 
we find on the records that Mr. Jeremiah Wise began to keep 
school in Braintree, Sept. 5th, 1700, according to an agreement 
with the Selectmen for thirty pounds per year. The agitation of 
the construction of a new school-house so exasperated the inhab- 
itants of the town, that they turned the school teacher off, and 
made a change of all the town officers. Nov. 10th, 1701, Mr. 
John Veasey was selected to take charge of the school. It ap- 
pears that their old teacher, Mr. Tompson, with all his eccentrici- 
ties and peculiarities was most acceptable to the people, as he was 
recalled in May, 1704, and served until 1710, when all traces of 
him seem to have disappeared. All we know is that he died in 
1714. 



1. The following is an epitaph to be found on Mr. Tompson's tomb-stone in 
Eoxburj-, District of Boston : — 

"Sub Spe Immortali ye Herse of Mr. Benj. Tompson, Learned Schoolmaster 
and Physician, and j-e Eenouned Poet of N. Engl. Obiit, Aprilis ]3, Anno Doni 
1714, and ^Etatis Sure 72, Mortuus Sid Immortalis. He that would try What 
is True Happiness Indeed Must Die." 
The following is the genealogy of Mr. Tompson's family:— 
JNIr. Tompson married Susanna, daughter of Philip Kirtland. His children 
were as follows, viz: "1st, Abigail, B. at Boston, 25-9-1670; 2d, Susanna, B. 
in Boston, 10-4-1673— married John Sanders, 24th May, 1698; 3d, Ann, B. in 
Charlestown, 10th Feb., 1676— married Joseph Belcher of I3edham, 9th Jan., 
16J)4; 4th, Ellenor, B. at Braintree, 29-9-1679, baptized ;30th September— she was 
the third wife to the Eev. Thomas Symmes of Bradford; 5th, Benjamin, B. at 
Braintree, 8-9-1682, baptized 12th September— married Hannah Ellis of Bos- 
ton; 6th, Elizabeth, B. at Braintree, 14-11-1684, baptized 18th November- 
married tlio llcv. Joseph Parsons of Lebanon, Conn., afterwards of Salis- 
bury, Mass., and was also the mother of the Lev. Samuel Parsons of Bye, N. 
H.; 7th, I'hilip, B. at Braintree, 26th ISIay, 1687, married Mary, daughter of 
George, son of Geo. Mouutjoy of Falmouth, Me.— she died 25th Jan., 1739. Mr. 
Tompson was a physician in Koxbury." Hist, and Gen. Keg., Vol. XV, p. 114. 



324 SCHOOLS. 

Mr. Tompsoii was succeeded by Mr. Adams. The following 
vote Avas passed by the town, in November, 1710 : — " That Mr. 
Adams, the present school-master, be empowered to demand a 
load of wood of each boy that comes to school this winter." Mr. 
John Cleverly followed Mr. Adams, Sept. 26th, 1715. " Voted, 
that the present Selectmen agree with Lieut. John Cleverly, for 
his son John's keeping school the present year for thirty-four 
pounds, to be paid him out of the school lands and the remainder 
to be made up out of the town's stock." 

The schools of old Braintree at this period, apparently com- 
pared favorably with those of other towns, for Neal in his his- 
tory, says : — " Roxbury and Braintree are distinguished for their 
schools." On account of their reputation, admission to these 
seems to have been sought after by scholars from other towns, 
as on the 26th of September, 1701, we find the following vote : — 
" That any person or persons living out of the town, who shall 
send any scholar or scholars to the aforesaid school, shall pay 
twenty shillings a year to the town treasury and proportionably 
for any part of it." 

Mr. Samuel Veasey, of Boston, a mariner, died at sea in 1695, 
and left a fund^ for the schools of Quincy, or Braintree, as it 
was then. Although there are several votes to be found on the 
records, even as long after the will was administered ujion as 
May 10th, 1717, when the town voted if need be, to sue Mr. 
Marshall, of Boston, the executor of the will. We have no 

1. Mr. Veasey made his will in 1690, from which we take the following : — 
"I do hereby give and bequeath the sum of twenty pounds money, for and 
towai'ds the maintenance and use of the schools of Braintree, aforesaid. 
Approved Jan. 7th, 1796." By the inventory of Mr. Veasey' s estate it appears 
he left £454 18s. ]-2d. Nov. 1st, 1714, the question of the collection of this 
money came up before the town meeting. It was "voted that the money former- 
ly given to this town by Mr. Samuel Veasey, deceased, now in some person's 
hands, be demanded, and forthwith sued for by the Town Treasurer for the use 
of the schools. Not being successful at this time, the town thought they would 
make another effort to secure this just demand. INIay 10th, 1717, it was " voted 
that Deacon Moses Paine, the present Town Treasurer, should demand, (and if 
need be sue for,) the money remaining in Mr. Samuel Marshall's hands, (of 
Boston,) which was given by Mr. Samuel Veasey to the free schools of this 
town, in and by his last will and testimony, and that according to the tenor of 
his will." 



SCHOOLS. 325 

means of knowing whether the town recovered this money or 
not. 

The first school-house stood on the town's land, about one 
hundred and fifty feet north, from the corner of Hancock and 
Canal streets, on the easterly side of tlie road, near Mrs. John 
A. Green's house, as Avill be seen by the bounds of the land 
granted by the toAvn in 1679, and purchased July 18th, 1700, of 
Mr. Thomas Bass, by Mr. Tompson. 

At a town meeting held Oct. 7th, 1679, it was voted, " that 
the acre and a half of land formerly granted by the town condi- 
tionally to Mr. Benjamin Tompson, for the time of his abode, 
shall be to him and his heirs forever absolute. Secondly, that 
in case Mr. Benjamin Tompson purchase Thomas Bass's land by 
the meeting-house, then he shall have a small gore of land, from 
the stile that leads to Samuel Tompson's land, straight to the 
backside of the school-house and to the highway." 

July 18th, 1700. " Thomas Bass hereby doth give, bargain, sell, 
convey and confirm unto Benjamin Tompson a parcel of upland 
and meadow, containing one acre and a half, be it more or less, 
bounded northerly on the town brook, in the heart of Braintree, 
easterly on land of James Brackett, southerly with the town's 
land adjoining to the old school-house, westerly with the town 
road." 

It appears by the following vote of the town that the old 
school-house was discontinued and sold some sixteen years 
after: — "1716, upon a motion of Mr. Benjamin Webb to the 
town, whether he might have the use of the school-house near 
him, (excepting the stone and brick,) for the securing of his hay 
till ye first of May next, and it passed in the afiirmative." After 
which the said old school-house was sold by the committee to 
the said Benjamin Webb, for three pounds paid into the treas- 
ury. 

The second school-house was built at the foot of Penn's Hill, 
on the easterly side of Franklin street, near the old house which 
Mr. Henry Hardwick has recently occupied. It caused a great 
many town meetings to be held. The town records contain the 
following votes concerning the construction of this school- 
house : — Oct. 22d, 1697, " voted, that the new school-house, 



326 SCHOOLS. 

should be built in the road between Clement Cox's and Gregory- 
Belcher's, hard by the white oak tree.^ The dimensions of the 
house to be twenty feet long, the Avidth sixteen feet, and seven 
feet between joints." The new school-house that was ordered 
to be built does not appear to have differed materially in size 
from the old one. The town this year not being in a mood to 
build the house, passed a vote the 7th of March, 1698, to remove 
the old school-house to the foot of Penn's Hill instead of build- 
ing. A year passes by and they decided to build the new school- 
house, and not to remove the old one.^ 

The next school-house erected in Quincy was on Hancock 
street, opposite the ten-mile post in the wall of the estate of the 
late Lemuel Brackett. It was to be built on this site if the fol- 
lowing provision was complied Avith : — " Provided Mr. John 
Beal will allow a piece of land in exchange for the land where 
the old Pound stood." This house was constructed in 1763. 
Tradition states that this school-house stood partly in the road, 
and was kept by a Mr. Fisher, who made it a practice, as it was 
then the custom in these semi-j^arochial schools, to hear his 
scholars recite on Saturday morning in the Assembly Catechism. 
Mr. Joseph Bass was then a boy, and one morning among the 
rest was questioned to recite. But he refused, saying that his 
father wished him not to recite in the catechism. He was excused 

1. Mr. "Whitney in his history says :— " This wliite oak tree seems to have 
been ne of note, for it is often referred to, and made of as much importance as 
if it had been a mountain, never to be removed." 

2. It is said that Mrs. Belcher kept this school for many years. Mr. "Whit- 
ney, relates "that it was customary with her to carry her corn to mill herself, 
excepting when some one of her scholars lent her a helping hand. John 
Adams, afterwards President of the United States, was a favorite among the 
rest, and when he carried the corn she gave him as a reward three coppers, and 
charged him at the same time to keep his money to buy land with. It is unnec- 
essary to add how well he profited by early instruction. This school-house was 
a very fine one for those days. It had a bell attached to it for the use of the 
scholars. But a bell was so novel a thing that, when the master or mistress 
was not in the school, it was kept incessantly ringing. This was not found so 
agreeable to those who lived near, and who would oftentimes have preferred to 
have been spared what the scholars considered so delightful a treat. One morn- 
ing the scholars came to their bell rope with the accustomed earnestness, but 
most unfortunately for them the bell had been taken away in the night, and 
was never afterwards heard of." 



SCHOOLS. 327 

by the master, but the matter was the cause of some excitement. 
Afterwards, reconcihation was effected by the invitation of Mr. 
Fisher to dine with the father. 

As early as 1716, we find that it was voted by tlie town that a 
" reading and writing" school shall be kept one-half of the year 
in the South Precinct ; this it a])j)eai-s Avas the first school estab- 
lished in what is now the town of Braintree. 

May 14th, 1716. "Voted by the inhabitants of Braintree regu- 
larly assembled, that there should be a school kept at the south 
end of the town, for one half of the year, each year yearly, 
beginning the first day of October for reading and writing, 
besides the present Grammar school, and that to be at the charge 
of the town." 

Now begins the contentions in building and locating the 
school-houses in the several precincts. " Then voted that a house 
be erected for the accommodation of a Grammar school in this 
town, which shall be in some convenient place, as soon as may 
be, between the North Meeting-house and Mr. Benjamin Webb's 
land, by the committee hereafter named and appointed, as they 
shall see meet." Against this vote Capt. John Mills entered his 
dissent. "Then voted, that a convenient school-house for writ- 
ing and reading, be built and set uj) in some convenient place in 
the south end of this town, near the meeting-house as soon as 
may be, and as the committee hereafter appointed shall see meet 
at the charge of the town." 

Sept. 17th, 1716. " The moderator moved to the town wheth- 
er the old school-house by Deacon Belcher's should be disposed 
of as the committee hereafter appointed shall see meet. It 
passed in the affirmative. It was then likewise motioned by the 
moderator, whether the old school-house near Mr. Benjamin 
Webb's should be disposed of as the committee hereafter 
appointed shall see meet. It passed in the affirmative." 

December, 1719, began the movement of the schools in a 
southerly direction. 

May 17th, 1725. It was " voted, that there shall be a writing 
and reading school annually, for the whole year, to be kej)t in 
the South Precinct, in such place or 2>laces, as a committee now 
to be chosen, to join with the major part of the Selectmen, Mr. 



328 SCHOOLS. 

Joseph Crosby, Lt. Samuel Allen, Mr. Epraira Thayer, shall agree, 
and to agree with the school-master." 

May 15th, 1728. " The moderator then put the question to the 
town whether the Middle Precinct in the town should have lib- 
erty to move the school now kejjt in that precinct to two other 
places, to be kept at each place a third part of the year, (or half a 
year at each if the said precinct see cause ;) provided the said 
precinct will be at the whole charge of such removal, the place 
nominated being one at the south-east corner of the little pond, 
where the ways part, and the other near the house of Nathaniel 
Wales. And it was voted in the affirmative." 

We now come to the first vote to establish a school in that 
part of the town, now Randolph. Nov. 2d, 1730. " A memo- 
rial of the new South Precinct was then laid before the town, 
which was presented at the last town meeting, concerning a 
school there, and the question being put whether the new South 
Precinct shall have eight pounds paid out of the town's treasury 
toward supporting a school in that i:)recinct yearly, until the 
town take further order, the first year to be understood to com- 
mence from March last. It jDassed in the affirmative." 

For thirty years matters went on in this manner, or until the 
population had become so large in the various precincts, that it 
was found to have become necessary to establish permanent 
school-houses in each of the precincts. 

March, 1763. "Voted, that there be a school-house built in 
each precinct of said town, at the town's expense ; that the 
school-house in the Middle Precinct be erected on the south-east 
corner of Mr. Benjamin Hayden's land, at the lane leading to 
Mr. Lemuel Thayer's ; that the school-house in the North Pre- 
cinct be erected opposite the ten-mile stake ; that the South 
Precinct have liberty to provide a place upon which to erect a 
school-house." 

We have given all the material history of the schools of the 
three towns, nearly to the time when they became distinct and 
independent townships. 

After the separation of the town, it became necessary for its 
inhabitants to reorganize their school system. In 1792, the first 
action taken by the town was to appoint the Selectmen to in- 



SCHOOLS. 329 

spect the schools, and seventy-five poiuula were appropriated, to 
be raised by taxation for their support. 

April 11th, 1793, the town voted to build a school-house^ on 
the training field, which embraced all the land M'here the First 
("liurt'h now stan*ds, a jKirt of AVasliington street and a large 
share of Temple street. This building was a plain, two-story 
house, and stood about one hundred feet north of the church. 

1. This school-house stood nearly opposite the Granite National Bank, on 
what then was called the training field. The school-room was about twenty by 
twenty-eight feet, and not very conveniently arranged for the accommodation 
of the scholars. The estimated cost of this school-house was ninety pounds. 
The writing desks and seats were long, and constructed for the use of from 
four to eight pupils. No paint, blackboards, maps or mottoes adorned its walls. 
The proclivity of the New England youth in the use of tlie jack-knife was fully 
exemplified by the various carvings on its blackened walls. Its heating apjiara- 
tus was a tire-place, and a small box stove, in which wood, instead of coal was 
used for warming the room. In cold winter days the pupils would, on coming 
to school, burst into a furor of indignation because their ink was frozen, and 
they were obliged to stand around the fire for half a day to thaw their ink, and 
limber up their digital extremities so that they could write their exercises. For 
some three months of the year the school was divided, and the advanced pupils 
were sent to the upper room, which was called the " ciphering school." About 
180(), Alpheus Cary taught this school two years, and Mr. John A\')iitnej' three 
years; Mr. Josiah Brigham from 1811 to 1814, when he was succeeded by Mr. 
William Seaver, the veteran school-master of Quincy, who for twenty-eight 
years taught school in the centre and south parts of the town, and was instructor 
for its youth and adult pupils for a longer time than any other person. Mr. 
Eliot Valentine and Ibrahim Bartlett, also taught the "ciphering school." 
All these teachers, with the exception of Mr. Alpheus Cary, were from North- 
boro', in Worcester County, of this State. The raw-hide securely locked in the 
master's desk was the great discipliner of that period. At this time Mrs. 
Bass, widow of Deacon Jonathan Bass, kept a dame school in a dwelling-house 
on Poverty street, so called, now Franklin, near the southerly junction of Pearl. 
Why the street was called Poverty, was on account of a weed by that name 
growing in abundance in it, and not from the poverty of its residents. This 
weed has long since disappeared. 

A horse block was located on the training field. This relic of antiquity was 
on the southeasterly part of this field, nearly opposite Mr. CI. F. Wilson's 
store, Temple street, where the lamp-post now stands. "It consisted of a 
granite block about seven feet long and three and one-half feet wide. It was 
supported at either end by small blocks, projecting beyond the upper blocks, so 
as to form steps. I ts use was to enable persons who came to church, town 
meeting or for other purpo.ses, to mount their horses with greater ease and con- 
venience. At this period horse-back riding was very common, as carriages 
were exiiensive, and not generally in use. 

43 



330 SCHOOLS. 

The upper story was used as a town hall, and in the winter a 
"ciphering school" was kept in the same room; on the lower 
floor the Grammar school was taught. The first town meeting 
held in this hall was on Thursday, Dec. 8th, 1796. This build- 
ing was burnt Dec. 29th, 1815, and until a .new school-house 
could be constructed, the school Avas kept in the hall of the 
house, near the eastei'ly corner of P"'ranklin and School streets, 
next building south of the Tiger cnghie-house. 

After considerable contention upon selecting a site for the 
rebuilding of the town hall and school-house, it w:is finally 
decided to erect one on land contiguous to the southerly part of 
the Hancock Cemetery, and the building was constructed in 
1817. It remained in this locality until 1841, when it was moved 
to near the site where the Coddington school-house now stands. 
After remaining there some fourteen years, it was moved again 
to nearly its old site, Avhere it was remodeled and additions 
made. It is now used as the District Court-room. 

The first recorded appropriations for the establishment of the 
Primary Departments, in the various local neigliborhoods, was 
in 1800. That year there were approjDriated $400 for the several 
school districts, and the man's school in the centre of the town, 
which were divided as follows: — The man's school, $270.00; 
Farms District, $27.50 ; Squantum District, $10.00 ; Hough's 
Neck District, $22.50 ; Old Field's District, $11.00 ; Penn's 
Hill District, $22.50 ; Wood's District, $22.50 ; North District, 
$14.00.-^ This appropriation was made in accordance Avith the 
number of pupils in each locality. Tlie meets and bounds were 
not run for the school districts until 1809, viz : — 

1. Thinking it may be of use to those who are interested in the progress of 
the schools of the town, we give the town appropriations for the public schools, 
for every fifth j'ear up to 1855. Since that period they can be found in the pub- 
lished reports of the committees : — 

]805, — Mau's school at the school-house, $400 ; woman's school at the school- 
house, $40 ; North District, $40 ; Farms District, $40 ; Wood's District, $40 ; 
Hough's Neck and Germantown, $40; Old Field's District, $40; Squantum, $16. 

1810, — Man's school at Centre District, $420 ; woman's school at the Centre 
District, $40 ; North District, $40 ; Wood's District, $40 ; Farms District, 
$40 ; Hough's Neck and Germantown, $40 ; Old Field's District, $40 ; Penn's 
Hill Di-strict, $40; Squantum, $18; Joseph Hunt, Jr., .$4. 

1815, — Mau's school at Centre, $470 ; woman's at Centre, $44 ; North District, 



SCHOOLS. 331 

Hough's Neck ami Germnntown, to inohule all easterly of the 
causeway near Half Moon, so called, to be one district. 

Old Field's District, or what is now called the Point, to begin 
at and include Nedebiah Bent's, Jr. ; also, to begin at and in- 
clude Edward Miller's, Esq., and to include all easterly of said 
place. 

Penn's Hill, to liegin at Braintree line and extend northerly as 
far as the church. (This church was the Episcojial, then located 
at the corner of School and what is now Phipps streets.) Also, 
to include Deacon Veazie's IMill. 

Wood's District, to begin at and include the house lately oc- 
cupied by Benjamin Pray, deceased, and also to include Richard 
Dexter's house, and all southerly of said place to the Braintree 
line. 

North District, to begin at and include Capt. Benjamin Bcal's 
dwelling house, and run to Milton line, and southerly as far as 

^44 ; Farms District, $44 ; Squantuni, $18 ; Hough's Neck and Gennantown, 
$44 ; Old Field's District, $44 ; South District, $44 ; Wood's District, $44 ; 
Joseph Hunt, Jr., $4. 

1820,— Man's school at Centre, including ink and fuel, $C35 ; woman's school 
at Centre, $57 ; man's school at Farms, $(>(! ; North District, $(iO ; Hough's 
Neck and Gennantown, $00 ; Old Field's District, $60 ; South District, $60 ; 
Wood's District, $G0 ; Squantum, $27 ; Joseph Hunt, Jr., $o. 

1825,— Man's school at Centre, $085 ; woman's at Centre, $00 ; man's school 
at the Farms, $71 ; woman's, $60; North District, ^60 ; Hough's Neck and 
Germantown, $00 ; Old Field's District, $(i0 ; South District, $00 ; Wood's Dis- 
trict, $00 ; Squautum, $24. 

1830, — Master's school at Centre, $423 ; wood and ink, $50 ; Master's school 
in South District, $425 ; wood and ink, $30 ; Master at the Point, $140 ; Master 
at the Farms, $120 ; Centre Primary, $00; South Primary, $60 ; North Primary, 
$00 ; Farms Primary, $00 ; Wood's, $00 ; Point, $00. 

1835, — At this period, the town made a general .appropriation, and the com- 
mittee divided the money according to the wants of the several districts. The 
amount to he raised this year hy taxation for the schools was $2,000. 

1840, — The amount to be assessed for schools was $2450. 

1845, — There were as.sesscd and collected at this time for schools $3100. The 
town increased their appropriations nine hundred for the year 1850, making the 
aTuount $4000. In 1855, the appropriation was increased to nearly double what 
it was the year previous, or thirty-tive hundred dollars, making the whole 
amount $7500. The whole number of children between the ages of five and 
fifteen for the year 1855, were 115SI. 

For further investigations, see School CJommittees' reports, the first publi- 
cation in pamphlet form, was in 1851. 



332 SCHOOLS. 

to include Neddy Curtis's farm. Tlie school-house for this dis- 
trict was located near the junction of Common and Adams 
streets. This district was afterwards organized as the West 
School District which inchided at that time the greater part of 
the West Quincy village, it being principally settled on or 
towards Adams street. 

S(piantum District embraced all the families on said place 
whi(t]i appertain to this town. 

Farms District began at and included the Avidow Mariah 
Ann Tieal's house, and extended to Dorchester and Milton line; 
also, as far as, and inchnled, Mr. John Billings' farm. 

Centre Distri(;t included all not within the bounds of the afore- 
mentioned districts.' The bounds wore run Aj)ril 8d, 1809. 

In 1810, the name of the Penn's Ilill District was changed to 

t. The Centre District was organized as a pru(lenti.al district in 1831. Abner 
Willett was chosen the first prudential coinniittee, in whicli office he served 
three years. The last committee chosen in the district was Mr. John llard- 
wick, in 1852. The first clerk chosen was Mr. Lewis Bass, who served seven 
years. The last clerk was Edwin H. Ravillc who served as such for the years 
18.51-2, or until the district was dissolved. 

The first meeting of the South School District for the purpose of organiz- 
ing as a j)rudeiitial district was on a warrant issued by the Selectmen in con- 
formity to the statute. The meeting was held Marcli 'i.'jth, 1831. At this 
meeting Mr. Samuel Curtis was chosen prudential committee, and Mr. George 
Veazie, clerk. A committee was selected to ascertain how the money should be 
expended which the district was entitled to, and the number of schools that 
should be kept within its limits. At an adjourned meeting held the 28th of the 
same month, it was voted to divide the district at Mr. John Veazie' s, the easter- 
ly bound to be the Town Common, and that the Wood's District should have 
its ])roportion of tlie money according to the number of children within its 
limits between the ages of four .an<l seven years. It was also voted that 
Messrs. Ibrahim Hartlett, Harvey Field and Josiah Ilayden, should be a com- 
mittee to set out trees in the school-house yard, which was soon accomplished, 
and the fine elm trees that now adorn the stone school-house yard on School 
street was the hai)py result of their forethought. The district was dissolved l)y 
statute, in 18()8. 

The North District was organized in IS.Tl, and Mr. Horatio N. Glover was 
chosen for prudential committee, and Edmund ]\)i)0 the last, in J8(i8. Mr. 
John Savil served for seven years, which was the longest j)eriod of any one 
person. Dr. William B. Duggan was selected as the first clerk, and served 
as such, at various times for ten years. The last clerk was Mr. George W. 
killings in 18()8. We are unable to give the other Districts, for the reason that 
the district records appear to have been lost, which is to be much regretted. 



SCHOOLS. 333 

the South, In 1820, the man's, or ciphering school, became so 
crowded that a great number of the pupils had to stand, or wait 
for seats until the recitations of the classes were going on. The 
school, at this time, was comprised of two hundred and four 
scholars, and the committee was of an opinion that an assistant 
teacher was necessary, as mending pens and setting Avritten cop- 
ies in their writing books, besides attending to the recitations, 
were more than one person could faithfully attend to. About 
181G, the first man's school was established at the Farms District. 

In 1825, the School Committee made its first detailed report 
in accordance with the statute, previous to this time the report 
was merely a financial statement.^ Also, that year the town 
censured Master Seaver for not attending more faithfully to his 
school duties. He replied, that if the town would increase his 
salary to five hundred dollars, he would devote all his time to 
the school; this was agreed to, and here the matter ended. In 
1826, the committee recommended to the town the im])ortance 
of establishing a man's school in the Old Field's District ; Avhich, 
as soon as all necessary arrangements could be made, was carried 
into operation. In 1827, it was found that the schools in the 
South and Wood's Districts could be more economically man- 
aged by consolidating them, which Avas soon accomplished. 

In 1829, it became imperative on the town to construct three 
new school-houses for the better accommodation of the school 
children — one each at the Point, Farms and South Districts. 
The cost of building these school-houses Avas as follows, viz : — 

1. The first School Committee made its first report 3Iay 13th, 1793, which 
was merely a fiuaiicial statement, as follows, viz: — "The committee appointed 
by the town for the purpose of appropriating the money voted by the town for 
the support of schools, in said town the present year, has attended to that ser- 
vice and report as follows: — Thirty pounds for an English reading and writing 
school in the school-house ; six pounds to the Farms and Squantum ; five pounds 
to Hoff's Neck and Gennautown; five pounds fourteen shillings, for a woman's 
school, from AiVilliam Vesey's up to Braiutree line, and the roadbj' Mr. Thomas 
Pratt's, round by Deacon IJass's; also, five pounds two shillings, for a woman's 
school, from Brackett's corner, (now the junction of (^uincy avenue, Kim, 
Hancock and School streets), down by Major Miller's, and all south of the brook 
to ISraintree line; also, four pounds two shillings, for a woman's school from 
Mr. Black's corner to Milton line; also, four pounds two shillings, for a wo- 
man's school, from Mr. Samuel Trask's, all south to Braintree line. All of 
which is most respectfully submitted." No names were subscribed to the report. 



334 SCHOOLS. 

Point District. Isaac Riddle, for deed of land, |40 ; Joel P. 
Deadman, for the erection of the house, $448 ; James New- 
comb, for underpinning, $35 ; total cost, $523. Trees were set 
in the school-yard in 1840. In 1843 the district was presented 
with a library for the use of the school. The first small primary 
school-house erected in this district was sold about the time this 
one was built and moved to the corner of Washington and 
South streets, where we believe it now stands. In 1858, the 
present Washington school-house was constructed, and the one 
on the same site sold and removed a short distance south, Avhere 
it was converted into a dwelling. Mr. Linus Belcher's con- 
tract for the carpenter work on the new school-house was 
$5,060. The total cost when completed for use was $7,634.05. 
In 1874, this house was found too small to accommodate the 
scholars of this district, and an appropriation was made by the 
town for its enlargement. The building was raised and a story 
placed under it, at a cost of $3,374.38. At the time Braintree 
Neck was annexed to Quincy, in 1856, this territory was added 
to the Point District, with the school-house then belonging to 
that part of the town. After the enlargement of the Point 
school-house, this school was discontinued and the scholars sent 
to the Point or Washington school. 

The first school-house in the Farms District, that we have any 
account of, was erected in 1794, at a cost of $75.34. This house 
was built on or near the estate of the late John J. Glover, nearly 
opposite the residence of Mr. Horace Jenkins, on Hancock street. 
It was sold in 1829, to Mr. Lemuel Billings, and is now at- 
tached to his residence. The second was built in compliance 
with the vote of the town, near the same site. The deed of 
this land given by Mr. Ezra Glover, was for $50.00. Mr. William 
Hinckley received for its construction $315 ; Silas Leonard, for 
underpinning, $40 ; R. & C. Lane, for painting, $13.64. This 
house was occupied for a school-room until 1850, when it was 
sold and removed to Mai'sh street, and made into a dwelling- 
house. The land upon which it stood was sold, and a more com- 
modious lot was purchased nearly opposite, on the corner of 
Hancock and Squantum streets, upon which a larger and better- 
adapted school-house was constructed, at a cost of $1600, and 



SCHOOLS. 335 

dedicated with approi)riate services, Oct. 9th, 1850. This part 
of Quincy, being nearer Boston, has increased very rapidly ; so 
much so was this the case, that in 1873, within the limits of the 
old Farms Districts, two large school-houses were erected. A 
site was procured for the Quincy School a little north of the 
former one, and upon it was built a large and well-arranged 
school-house, completed at a cost of $18,256.63. Mr. William 
Parker's contract for the carpenter work was 815,112. The 
old house was sold and altered into a dwelling-house and is still 
standing on its old site. This school was named, in 1863, the 
Quincy School, in honor of this old and renowned family, who, 
for over two centuries, has resided within its limits. Among 
the many teachers who have taught in this district was the late 
Kev. Theodore Parker, in 1830-1. 

The South District stone school-house Avas built in 1829. Mr. 
Joseph Brackett gave a deed of the land for $150 ; Mr. "William 
Wood was paid for stone and masonry work, $439.05 ; Mr. Geo. 
Veazie, for carpenter work, $540; R. & C. Lane, for painting, 
$13. G4. This building was built but one story high at the time. 
In 1841, an additional story was added to it at a cost of $900. 
Beside this building, in the same yard, was moved the old Pri- 
mary school-house that formerly stood on Franklin street, oppo- 
site the old Adams mansions, which was built by private means. 
It was in this Primary school-house that on the 12th of 
March, 1834, Adaline Dickerman, child of Lewis Hay den's 
wife, who formerly married a jMr. Dickeriuan, came to her sad 
and untimely death by being burnt, during the noon intermission 
of the school, her clothes having caught fire, from some cause 
or other, from the stove. She was six years of age at the time 
of her decease. In 1855, it was found that the schools in the 
South District had become so crowded that a new and larger 
house "was needed for their accommodation. A site for the 
l)uilding, of about a lialf an acre of land was purchased on 
Phipps street, for its location. l"i)on this land a school-house 
was erected at a cost, when completed, of little over $7,000. 
Mr. C. Fisher's contract for carpenter work was $4,652. 

The West District was organized out of the old North and a 
part of the South, in 1838. That year a small house was built 



336 SCHOOLS. 

on the easterly side of Copeland street, a short distance north of 
its junction with Cross street. A Primary school-house was con- 
structed in 1840, at a cost of |225; on the enlargement of the 
old house, this was sold. In 1842, a school library was pur- 
chased for the use of the school. The old school-house is still 
standing on its old site, and is occupied as a dwelling. The 
present school-house was erected the latter part of 1854, and 
opened in March, 1855. The cost of constructing and furnish- 
ing this house was something over |7,000. In 1873, the School 
Committee announced to the town that the old school-house was 
too small to accommodate the rapidly-increasing population of 
this thriving part of the town, and the great necessity of the 
enlargement of their present house. In accordance with the re- 
port of the committee, an appropriation was made, and the 
house enlarged at a cost of $5,600. In 1858, this school was 
named the Willard School, in honor of Mr. Solomon Willard, 
architect of the Bunker Hill monument, who had resided so 
long among them, and had done much for the improvement 
and embellishment of that part of the town. 

The Hough's Neck and Germantown schools were among the 
earliest established in town, but for many years were kept in 
private houses. In fact, the schools in this district were always 
unsatisfactory to the committee and the town, owing to its 
isolated position and the sparseness of its inhabitants. The fii'st 
vote we find to construct a school-house in this district was in 
1831, when a building sixteen by twenty feet was erected, at a 
cost of 8185. This house was built near the junction of Palmer 
and Sea streets. It was sold, and now forms a part of the house 
of James E, Tirrell, Esq. In 1838, another one was built. This 
school was, in 1864, named the Crane School, to commemorate 
the late Friend Crane, who was for many years previous to his 
death. Superintendent of the Snug Harbor. In 1874, the School 
Committee announced to the town that they thought it would 
be more economical and satisfactory to have this school discon- 
tinued, and the scholars transported to the Coddington. In 
conformity with this suggestion, the school was dissolved and 
the house sold. 

The present Coddington house was erected in 1855. Mr. 



SCHOOLS. 337 

Wm. Parker's contract for carpenter work was $4,950. When 
furnished and completed, the total cost was $7,307.98. In 187G, 
the house was enhirged by the addition of another story, at a 
cost of $3,500. Mr. Jonas Shackley's contract for tlie carpenter 
work was $2,840.00. We have before spoken of the school-houses 
built in tliis locality, but they were for the man's school, and 
used for the accommodation of the whole town, and afterwards 
for the distiict. The jiresent one is the first legitimate district 
school-liouse erected within its limits. This school was named 
after Mr. William Coddington, in 1858, in honor of Quincy's 
first benefactor. 

In 1870, a new settlement began at what is called Wollaston 
Heights, and the increase of population was so rapid, that in 
1871, the School Committee found it necessary to establish two 
schools for its accommodation. A temporary building was 
provided, in which the school was kept until the completion of 
the school-house, in 1873. Mr. J. H. Burt's contract for the 
carpenter work in constructing the building was $14,047.30. 
The next year's bills, for grading, architect's commission, etc., 
for the school-house, was $1,579.31, making a total cost of 
$15,616.01. 

We shall now return and finish up the time in which the dis- 
trict lines have been run. In 1831, it was found necessary to 
re-bound the districts, which were nearly the same as in 1809, 
with the exception of consolidating the South and Wood's Dis- 
tricts into one, and extending the North so as to include Presi- 
dent John Q, Adams' house. At this time the number of pupils 
in each district was as follow, viz: — Point, 80; South, 143 ; Cen- 
tre, 139 ; North, 53 ; Farms, 50 ; Hough's Neck and German- 
town, 22 ; Squantum, 5. In 1838, the districts were re-bounded 
in a more thorough and systematic manner, witli meets and 
bounds of stone posts, with the initials of each district carved 
upon them. The last time the bounds were run was in 1865. 
These lines are now of little use, as the schools are under the 
exclusive jurisdiction of the School Committee, and they can 
send the pupils of the public schools wherever they think most 
convenient and proper for them to go, irrespective of district 
lines. Still the old lines are generally adhered to. 

44 



338 SCHOOLS. 

There are at the present time thirty-five public schools in 
the town, inckiding the High; six male and thirty-two female 
teachers and assistants. This year there were one thousand, 
eight hundred and sixty-eight pupils in the public schools from 
five to fifteen years of age; one hundred and fifty-eight over 
fifteen, and some sixty attending private institutions. Four 
hundred and fifty do not attend school. The town appropriated 
thirty-two thousand dollars for the schools, for the year 1877, 
besides the State and Coddington fund. 

By the census of 1875, we find that there were in the town 
twenty-seven natives and four hundred and seventeen foreign 
persons that could neither read or write. 

By the town records, it appears that a public Latin school 
was kept in Braintree for upwards of a century. When and by 
whom it was taught, we are unable to say; most probably it was 
in connection with the common town school. This school, how- 
ever, was of gome note, as Mr. John Adams mentions that he 
was at one time an inmate of it : — " My early life and education 
was first at the public Latin school in the then town of Brain- 
tree, then at a private academy under Mr. Joseph Marsh, within 
three doors of my father's house,^ then at Harvard College in 
Cambridge, where, after four years of studies, I received a 
degree as Bachelor of Arts, in 1755." 



1. This is a very ancient house, and is one of the old relics, if not the oldest, 
on Franklin street. It was first in the possession of Mr. Samuel Tonipson, 
who in 1G72, sold it to the Rev. Moses Fisk, the second settled clergyman of the 
First Church. This estate then consisted of a house, harn, orchard, and six 
acres of land, and was purchased for £115. It was bounded southerly by a 
tract of land commonly called Mill Fields, easterly on the county road, west- 
erly upon land of John Needham and Samuel Savil, northerly on Mill street. 
[That part of School street extending from tlie corner of Frankliu to the old 
mill was then called Mill street.] 

After the death of the Rev. Mr. Fisk, this property was sold by the trustees 
of his estate, April 13th, 1710, to the Rev. Joseph Marsh, his successor, who 
married Ann, the daughter of Mr. Fisk. Mr. Marsh, for the six acres, paid 
£133 6s. 8d. The trustees said, if the house had not been so much decayed, 
they should have demanded £200. This being the case, we think Mr. Marsh 
must have extensively repaired it. In this house Mr. Jos. Marsh, the son of the 
minister, taught his classical school. The proprietors contiguous to this estate, 
since the purchase of it by Mr. Fisk, seem to have changed somewhat, as the 
following bounds would indicate :— " Easterly, on the county road, southerly on 



SCHOOLS. 339 

HIGH SCHOOL. 



At the annual meeting held in March, 1851, a committee of 
one was chosen from each school district to report at the 
adjourned meeting the expediency of erecting a High school- 
house in compliance with the statute. 

At the adjourned meeting held May 26th, the committee 
reported that they had selected a lot of land in the rear of Quin- 
cy avenue, belonging to the Ai)thorp estate, as the most con- 
venient site for the High school-house, and also for two other 
school-rooms for the accommodation of the over-crowded Prima- 
ry schools of the South and Centre districts. The land was 
purchased for $1200. The building was to be 54 by 38 feet, and 
constructed in a plain Grecian style, at an estimated expense of 
84,775. Mr. William Parker received the contract for construct- 
ing the building at 1:4,952, and when completed, including the 
land it cost $0,748.68. The town appropriated S800 to establish 
this school. Owing to the time taken to arrange the preliminary 
steps, the school was not opened until the 12th of May, 1852. 
On the day of examination, seventy-three candidates jiresented 
themselves. A series of eighty questions was prepared, and sub- 
divided as follows, viz : — Twenty in arithmetic, twenty in geog- 
raphy, twenty in grammar and twenty in spelling. Fifty-one 
were admitted, having returned the most correct answers. Thus 
was the High School organized under the charge of Asa 

land of Moses Curtis, westerly in part on land of "William Vesey, and partly ou 
land of the late Deacon Penniman, and northerly in part by Mill street, so 
called, and partly on said land of Deacon Peuniman." This house was former- 
ly owned by the late elder Frederick Hardwick, and is now in possession of Mr. 
Charles H. Spear, and is located on the westerly side of the street, a few rods 
south of his residence. 

In connection with this subject we will give the streets where all of the earlier 
ministers of the First Church resided, viz : — Rev. "William Tompson, Henry 
Flint and the Rev. Peter Whitney, owned and occupied estates located on Sea, 
now called Chestnut street ; Flint and "Whitney were on the east side, and 
Tompson on the west. Rev. John Hancock and Briant resided on the Hancock 
lot, where the Adams Academy now stands. Rev. !Mr. "Wibird, not being 
married, boarded at Mr. Thomson Baxter's, whose house was located ou 
Canal street. 



340 SCHOOLS. 

Wellington, Esq., who taught this school three years. He still 
continues to reside in tlie town. Miss C. li. Burgess was the 
first female assistant, and was employed in the year 1854. Mr. 
Harrison A. Keith, the present teacher, began his connection 
with the school as teacher in 1868, and still continues to offi- 
ciate as such, having been principal longer than any other one 
person. 



PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 



The first priA^ate school for boys, that Ave have any definite 
account of, was taught by Mr. Joseph Marsh, the son of tlie Rev. 
Mr. Marsh, the fourth minister of the First Church. This was a 
classical school where young men were fitted for college, and 
was kept in the North Precinct of Braintree, in the house after- 
wards owned by Mr. Frederick Hardwick, senior, on Franklin 
street. This institution was carried on between the years 
1740-60. Among those prepared for college at this school, Avere 
President John Adams, Zabdiel Adams, Josiah Quincy, Jr., and 
others. 

In 1836, Dr. Cornell erected on School street, a building for a 
school. Through Dr. Cornell's adaptability for teaching, he was 
able to establish a very successful and noted educational institu- 
tion. So popular did his school become, that puj^ils from the 
various States and Provinces were to be found Avithin this noted 
school-room. OAving to the illness of Mrs. Cornell, the Doctor 
was obliged to relinquish it. His residence and school-house Avas 
sold to Mr. Benjamin Curtis, Avho for some years, or until he 
recently ga\^e up business, occuj^ied the school-house as a boot 
manufactory. The building has recently been moved back on 
Gay street, and converted into a dAvelling-house. 

Mr. William Seaver, about 1826, kept a private school in 
Quincy. Subsequently Mr. Seaver became quite a noted teacher 
of the public schools, and for years taught in the Centre District. 
Other i^rivate schools for boys have been kept in the toAvn. 

The first private school for females taught in this tOAvn, Avas 
by Mrs. Margaret Flint, consort of the Rev. Henry Flint, one of 



SCHOOLS. 341 

the first ministers of the First Chnrcl). INrndam Flint was pecu- 
liarly adnpteil for teaching, and her school became so noted that 
many young ladies from Boston and other places were found 
among her pupils. This school -was kept at her residence on 
the easterly side of Chestnut street, located about one hundred 
feet north of the junction of Chestnut with Canal street. This' 
building was some years since taken down. 

Some fifty years ago, a select school for females was kept in 
town by the Miss Marstons, where the elite of Quincy and Bos- 
ton sent their daughters for a refined education. This school 
was kept in the Marston house, which stood on School street, 
where the St. John's Catholic Church is now located, and was 
burnt some years ago. Some of the pupils that attended this 
school are still living. 

About 1836, Miss Elizabeth Torrey opened a young ladies' 
school, on School street in the old and curious A])thorp house, 
which has been taken down. Afterwards the school w:is re- 
moved to the old Burrell house, Avhich stood near the corner of 
Hancock and Granite streets, on the site, where the Robertson 
House now stands. To her school the j^rincipal families of 
Quincy sent their daughters for an ornamental and useful edu- 
cation. Many of her pupils are still living to testify to the faith- 
fulness of their favorite and much-respected teacher. 

The Rev. John D. Wells erected a building for school pur- 
poses on Greenleaf street, where he opened and carried on a very 
successful private school. On his removal from Quincy, Misses 
AVright and French assumed charge of this school, and it con- 
tinues prosperous under their judicious management. 

Dame schools have been kept by Mrs. Bass, Burrell, Wild, 
Nightingale, Packard, Savil, HardAvick and others. 



ENDOWED INSTITUTIONS. 



In 1822, the venerable John Adams, Ex-President of the 
United States, by deeds,^ gave to the town in trust, 211 acres of 

1. The following are extracts taken from the deeds of gift of Mr. Adams to 
the town of Quincy, in reference to the Academy: — 



342 SCHOOLS. 

various kinds of land, besides two pieces of cedar swamp the 
number of acres not enumerated, for the purpose of founding a 
classical school of a high order in his native town, Avhen in the 
opinion of the supervisors the fund had accumulated to a suffi- 
cient amount for its erection. 

June 24th, 1869, in the judgment of the supervisors, the fund 
had increased to the amount, that Avould authorize them to pro- 
ceed to the construction of the building, although four previous 
efforts had been made to erect a suitable edifice, first in Oct., 
1832; in 1846; again in 1850; and a fourth time in 1860; 
which were not successful. After suitable measures had been 
taken in securing estimates and plans, and the cost was found to 
be within the limits of the increased fund, they immediately 
began the work in 1869, by breaking ground over, or on, the 
cellar of the old residence of the Kev. John Hancock, father of 
John Hancock, the renowned patriot of the Revolutionary war of 
1775. In this house John Hancock, first President of the Conti- 
nental Congress, was born. This building in accordance with the 
directions of the bequest was built of stone with brick trim- 
mings, and completed in Jan., 1871, at a cost of $28,867.99, and 
was opened for the reception of pupils in September 1872, under 
the able superintendence of the late W. R. Dimmock, LL.D. 

"That all the future rents and emoluments arising from said land, be applied 
to the'stipport of a school for the teaching of the Greek and Latin languages, 
and any other languages, arts and sciences, which a majority of the ministers, 
magistrates, lawyers and physicians, inhabiting in the said town, may advise." 
* * * "That as soon as the funds will be sufficient, a school-master 
should be procured, learned in the Greek and Eoman languages, and if thought 
advisable, the Hebrew, not to make learned Hebricians, but to teach such 
young- men as choose to learn the Hebrew Alphabet, the rudiments of the He- 
brew Grammar, and the use of the Hebrew Grammar and Lexicon, that in 
after life they may pursue the study to what extent they may please. But I 
hoiie the future masters will not think me too presumptuous, if I advise them to 
begin their lessons in Greek and Hebrew, by compelling their pupils to take 
their pens and write, over and over again, copies of the Greek and Hebrew 
alphabets, in all their variety of characters, until they are perfect masters of 
those alphabets and characters. This will be as good an exercise in chirography 
as any they can use, and will stamp those alphabets and characters upon their 
tender minds and vigorous memories so deeply that tlie impression will never 
wear out, and will enable them at any period of their future lives, to study 
those languages to any extent with great ease." 




ADAMS A (• A 1) E M Y 



SCHOOLS. 343 

It began witli twenty-three pupils, six of whom were from Quin- 
cy. In 1877 it numbered 150 scholars. Owing to tliis hirge 
increase, it was found necessary to eix'ct anotlier building of 
wood, (which is temporary,) a few feet north of the Academy. 
Even in these hard times of financial embarrassment, there are 
about one hundred students connected with it. 

Tiie design of the institution, is to prepare boys to enter the 
l)est .Vmerican colleges. The course of instruction is four years. 
The tuition, together with the endowment fund, enables the trus- 
tees to employ able teachers. The school has become so pop- 
ular, that within its classic walls can be found students from 
many States of the Union. The jirogress of this Academy has 
been more successful than its most ardent friends anticipated; 
and very remarkably so, too, if we take into consideration that it 
ciinie into immediate and direct competition with three of the 
oldest and well-established institutions for the qualification of 
young men to enter the most noted colleges in New England ; 
such schools as And over, Exeter, and not the least among them, 
the Boston Latin School. Andover, Exeter, Boston Latin School 
and Adams Academy are now the great feeders to two of the 
oldest and most noted universities in the country, Harvai'd and 
Yale ; standing in the same relation to them, that Eaton, Rugby, 
Harrow and other great schools of England do to the celebrated 
English colleges of Cambridge and Oxford. P'ounder's day is 
yearly celebrated in honor of the birthday of the generous 
donor, which occurred Oct. 19tli, 1785. In accordance with the 
desire of Mr. Adams, his fragmentary library, presented by him 
to the town, has been deposited in the hall of this educational 
building. This flourishing institution is now under the tempo- 
rary charge of Professor Everett, of Harvard. 

Perhaps the reason why Mr. Adams did proscribe Meta- 
physics in the course of instruction for the Academy, was that 
he considered it a too speculative or imaginary science, as in 
one of his letters he says: — "Metaphysics I would leave in the 
clouds, with the materialists and spiritualists; or, if permitted 
to be read, it should be with romances and novels." 

Although he was a great admirer of classic authors, yet, his 
opinion of old Plato's works was not very flattering, as the fol- 



344 SCHOOLS. 

lowing comment on this writer, written to Thomas Jefferson, 
July 16th, 1814, Avill illustrate :— 

" I am glad you have seriously read Plato, and still more 
rejoiced to find that your reflections upon him so perfectly har- 
monize with mine. Some thirty years ago, I took upon me the 
task of going through all his works. With the helj) of two Lat- 
in translations and one English, and one French translation, and 
comparing some of the most remarkable passages with the Greek, 
I labored through the tedious toil. My disaj^pointment was 
very great, my astonishment was greater, and my disgust was 
shocking. Two things only did I learn from him. First, that 
Franklin's idea of exempting husbandmen, mariners, tfec., from 
the depredations of war were borrowed from him ; and secondly 
that sneezing is a cure for the hiccough. Accordingly, I cured 
myself and all my friends of that provoking disorder for thirty 
years, with a pinch of snuff." — Adams' Works, Vol. X, p. 103. 

A large trust fund has been given to Quincy for the purpose 
of founding and establishing a female institute. The fund at 
this time, 1878, amounts to $77,816.78. This generous gift was 
bequeathed by the late Dr. Ebenezer Woodward, a worthy and 
respected practicing physician of the town who died without 
issue in 1869. At the time of his decease the town received by 
this gift something over thirty thousand dollars, and the accu- 
mulation of whicli makes the above specified sum. At the death 
of the two remaining children of the late Thomas Greenleaf, 
some thousands of dollars more will be added. This institute 
is to be exclusively for the refined and useful education of young 
misses and ladies between the ages of ten and twenty years; 
none but those who are born in the town of Quincy will be 
allowed to receive the benefits of this female institute. The 
management, and all the internal regulations of it, are to be 
under the control of the settled clergymen of the town, includ- 
ing the Catholic. The minister of the Unitarian Church is to be 
the perpetual chairman cf the board of managers. For the bet- 
ter information of the inhabitants of Quincy we give in a 
note, that part of the will which relates to this subject.^ 

1. " I give and bequeath to the town of Quincy, in tlie Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, and County of Norfolk, in its corporate capacity, all my real 



SCHOOLS. 345 

BRAINTREE SCHOOLS. 



The niiniber of public schools in Braintree is fifteen, (except- 
ing the High School), subdivided as follows : — Pond Grammar, 
Intermediate and Primary ; Union Grammar, Intermediate and 
Primary; Iron Works Grammar, Intermediate and Primary; 
East, Middle, South-east, South, South-west and West District 
Schools ; all of which are under the management of female 
teachers. These schools are attended by over six hundred 
scholars. The High School is the only school in Braintree that 
is under the supei'intendence of a male teacher, and is kept in 

estate in the town of Quinoy, and all the pews I may own in various meeting- 
houses or churches in and out of town at my death, with the exception of the 
homestead where I now live, the portion of the farm of the late Daniel Green- 
leaf to he hereinafter described, and pew No. 58 in the Stone Temple, as a fund 
for the purposes to be hereinafter mentioned, to he disposed of or kept, as the 
town may think proper; the sales, together with the rents, profits and income 
from whatever source obtained, to be kept as a perpetual fund, guaranteed by 
the town with six per cent, interest forever, for the purpose to be hereinafter 
mentioned, viz: — Whenever the income from the foregoing bequest shall be 
sufficient, in the opinion of the managers of said fund, or at least within 
twenty-five years after my decease, they shall establish and continue for the 
town of Quincy forever, a female institute, for the education of females between 
the ages of ten and twenty years, who are native born, (I wish it to be under- 
stood, in the town of Quincy, and none other than these to be allowed to attend 
this institute,) which I wish to be as perfect and as well conducted as any other 
in the State. 

"The property which I bequeath to the town of Quincy, for these purposes, is 
to be perpetually managed by the Selectmen of said town, together with the 
Clerk and Treasurer, for the best advantage of said town, and said institute. 

"Whenever the town of Quincy becomes a city, then the government of said 
city to have the management of said property for the benefit of said city, to 
be used according to the directions of this will and for the purpose herein 
mentioned. 

" I would recommend that the said town, or city, as the case may be, should 
choose a committee from time to time, to confer with the above-named officers 
concerning the best mode of managing said property, and to see that it is not 
wasted or lost. 

"The management of said institute or school, so far as the selection of in- 
structors and the studies to be i)ursued and all internal regulations, to be and to 
remain under the direction of the following gentlemen forever, viz: — The sev- 
eral ordained and settled ministers of the town, or city, as may be, and all 
settled ministers to be added to the committee, from time to time, as they be- 

45 



346 SCHOOLS. 

the Town House building,^ with an average attendance of fifty- 
two pupils in summer and fifty-nine in winter, and is under the 
charge of Mr. Charles E. Stetson. 

Approj^riation for schools, $7,662.73; incidental expenses for 
schools, $110.23. These sums are beside the Coddington and 
other school funds combined. The income of the school fund 
for the year 1877, was $468.92. The whole amount of school 
I^roperty of Braintree in 1875, was $35,000. 

A little north of the Town Hall, nearly adjoining that estate, 
stands the Thayer Academy, a commodious and well-arranged 
edifice, built of brick with stone trimmings; a living monu- 
ment to the great liberality of the late Brigadier-General of the 
United States Army, Sylvaniis Thayer, a native of Braintree. 
Mr. Thayer, at the time of his decease, bequeathed to his native 
town $ 200,0 00 as a fund to establish a literary institution of a 

come residenta of Quiucy. I mean the Catholic, as well as Protestant, and all 
who are settled, for one or more years and reside in the town of Quincy. I wish 
no sectarianism taught in the institute, leaving that to parents and the pastor 
of their choice. The senior pastor of the Stone Temple is to he perpetual chair- 
man of said board, or committee. 

"I wish all the ornamental, as well as useful, branches of learning taught in 
the institute or school, which are taught in any other similar institute iu the 
State. 

"The said institute is to be located on land given by said donor to the town 
of Quincy. My present opinion is that the most proper location is nearly oppo- 
site the Hancock lot, on the farm of the late Daniel Greenleaf ; but the said 
committee, with the Selectmen, Town Clerk and Treasurer, are to decide on 
what part of said farm the location shall be. 

" If the town of Quincy refuse to accept the above property upon the terms 
herein specified, or fail to comply with the words and intent of this will, as 
determined by good judges, or should surrender the property, or use it for any 
other purpose than contemplated in this will, then I bequeath the said property 
to the trustees of Dartmouth College, to be used by them an the manner they 
may think best, for the promotion of science and literature." 

1. The Town House is a noble structure built of wood, on about five acres of 
land presented to the town by the liberal and generous donor, Mr. Josiah French, 
a native of the town, and is located in South Braintree. On the same site is 
erected a fine Soldiers' Monument, and the Thayer Public Library building. 

This Town Hall, where the citizens meet for the transacting of the town's 
business, was publicly dedicated July 2yth, 1858. A procession comprised of 
its citizens, the public schools, the Governor and other distinguished guests, took 
part in the ceremonies. The address was delivered by the Hon. Charles F. 
Adams of Quincy. The building when completed, cost the town, $15,000. 



SCHOOLS. 347 

high grade, provided that the town would appropriate an addi- 
tional amount of $20,000. This the town agreed to do. 

In 1877, the trustees found that the accumulation of the fund, 
together with what the town had given, amounted to about 
$260,000. This they considered sufficient for the construction 
of the academy ; work was immediately begun and the building 
soon erected at a cost of about $60,000, The academy was 
opened Wednesday, Sept. 12th, 1877, for the reception of pupils 
under the superintendence of Professor J. B. Sewall, of Bow- 
doin College, and two assistants, Mr. Charles A. Pitkin and Miss 
Anna B. Thompson. Ninety-six candidates were examined, of 
whom thirty-five were admitted; of this thirty-five, four did not 
join the class and four returned to the High School. 

Whether this is a free endowed institution to the four towns 
formerly comprising the old township of Braintree, viz : — Hol- 
brook, Randolph, Quincy and Braintree, we are unable to say. 
Braintree, at tlie time she gave the $20,000,^ in conformity with 
the design of the donor, towards its support, considered it was; 
but the trustees, after the construction of the building, informed 
the town that it was not. This so incensed her citizens that a 
town meeting was called to talk matters over. The question 
was finally left as unsatisfactory as it was at the beginning of 
the controversy, and that was that the town had nothing to do 
with it. On the part of the trustees it seems to be a sort of an 
optional institution in reference to the tuition ; that is, if the 
pupils from the four towns referred to, will give notice to the 
principal at the opening of the school, that they are to be consid- 
ered candidates for a free scholarship, and make sufficient profi- 
ciency in their studies and are exemplary in their conduct to the 
satisfaction of the trustees, no tuition will be charged. " The 
number of the free scholarships is not limited, and it is intended 
to make the conditions of obtaining them such as will put them 
within reach of every youth of good average capacity and faith- 
ful application, and thus to hold out the strongest possible iu- 



1. Mr. Thayer's request in his will desiring Braintree to appropriate S20,000, 
was merely for choice of location ; if she refused, then it was to go to any of the 
other towns that would comply with this requisition in accordance with the 
seniority of their incorporation. 



348 SCHOOLS. 

centive to a right use of the opportunities afforded by the acad- 
emy." A tuition fee of thirty dollars will be demanded of all 
students from Quincy, Ilolbrook, Randolph and Braintree, who 
do not thus earn a free scholarship.^ A curriculum of four years 
has been adopted by the trustees. The design of the institution 
is to give a finished, thorough and solid education to both sexes, 
and also to prepare all who may desire to enter college. 



RANDOLPH SCHOOLS. 



Randolph has made ample provisions for the education of her 
youth. There are nineteen schools established within her limits, 
two of which are taught by male teachers — one thirteen weeks 
and the other twenty-five weeks ; the remaining numbers are 
kept by females. Thirteen of these schools are kept thirty- 
eight weeks; two, thirteen weeks ; one, twenty-five weeks; one, 
twenty-three Aveeks. There are seven school-houses, valued at 
132,950. In 1876, seven hundred and eighteen pupils attended 
these nurseries of education. There is also a high school, whioh 
is partly endowed and partly supported by taxation. This is 
called the Stetson High School, in honor of the late Amasa 
Stetson, a worthy citizen of Dorchester, now Ward 24, Bos- 
ton, who gave $10,000, the income of which was to be used 
towards the support of a school of a high grade for boys. To 
make this a high school, so that it will meet the requirements 
of the statute of the State in establishing a school of this grade, 
the town makes yearly appropriations of certain sums, which are 

1. The will of the founder contains the following provisions: — "I direct 
* * * that such and so many free scholars as my trustees may deem 
proper, be educated without any charge for their tuition; provided that every 
such free scholar shall have been born in said Quincy, Braintree or Randolph; 
or, if not born there, that one or both of his or her parents shall reside in one of 
said towns at the time of his or her admission, and during his or her continu- 
ance as a pupil of said academy; and in deciding on the admission of such free 
scholars, I request that those may be preferred whom my trustees may deem 
most capable and most industrious — most advanced in learning and most wor- 
thy, without regard to the pecuniary circumstances of their parents or guar- 
dians." 



SCHOOLS. 349 

raised by taxation, to admit young ladies, •which answers the 
purpose. The amount raised by the town last year for this 
school, was ^950. This mixed support enables the town of Ran- 
dolph to sustain a high school of seventy-three pupils, under the 
direction of a principal and an assistant. This educational insti- 
tution is kept in rooms prepared for it in the Town Hall build- 
ing.^ The total amount of money raised and paid for the schools 
of Randolj^h, for the year 1877, was as follows, viz : — For teach- 
ing, $6,580.77 ; for the Stetson High School, $950, (this is exclu- 
sive of the income of the endowed fund of $10,000) ; for fuel, 
$368.10 ; for care of school-rooms, $404.75 ; for miscellaneous 
expenses, $1,920.89; total, $10,224.57. Besides this amount 

1. The Town Hall is a fine, commodious edifice, built of wood, at a cost of 
$10,000, and is called Stetson Hall, in commemoration of the Hon. Amasa 
Stetson, who presented it to the town, together with the fund for the school. 
The hall was formally dedicated in 1842. In it is to he seen a life-like portrait, 
by Frothingham of Charlestown, of its generous and munificent donor. He 
also presented the town with JflOO to build a face-wall around the old North 
Cemetery, where his parents were buried. A short time after the establishment 
of the school, a pleasant episode occurred. One pleasant winter day, the 
teacher, with his pupils, concluded to visit their old friend at Dorchester, who 
had so munificently endowed a school for them. They procured a suitable 
vehicle for the purpose, and started off with all the exuberance of youthful 
glee. On arriving at Dorchester they were received with the accustomed hospi- 
tality of Mr. Stetson. After a short, pleasant and social interview, they parted 
■with their generous benefactor by wishing him renewed health, and giving him 
three hearty cheers, that made the welkin ring. 

Amasa Stetson was the son of John Stetson, who married Rachel Paine, of 
Randolph. Amasa was born in Randolph, March 2(ith, 17()!), and married Re- 
becca Kettell, of Boston, August 21st, 1798. Mr. Stetson began life as a poor 
boy, and learned the shoe-maker's trade. He afterwards went to Boston, where 
he connected himself with his brother Samuel in the shoo business. By strict 
economy and close application, he here laid the foundation of his large fortune. 
In the war of 1812, he was appointed by President Madison to the oftice of 
Commissary for the District of Massachusetts, and was also chosen by the 
Democrats as State Senator. During his life, he manifested his liberality by 
his donations to his native town, and the town of Dorchester, his adopted place 
of residence, where he presented the Rev. INIr. Hall's church with a fine clock 
which cost .'?700. In the town of Stetson, in ]\Iaine, which was named after 
him, he had a church constructed for the use of all denominations. It is some- 
what singular that the first time the bell of this church was tolled, was for his 
death. Mr. Stetson's death occurred Aug. 2d, 1844, aged 75 years, 4 months 
and G days, and he lies buried in the Dorchester burying-ground. IMr. Stetson 
died without issue, and left a large fortune of over ^5500,000. 



350 SCHOOLS. 

raised by the town was the income of the Coddington fund, of 
$1,600, in the treasui-y, and swamp land in Quincy vahied at 
$500. Town appropriation for schools, |;9,550. The whole 
amount of school property in Randolph in 1875, was $32,950. 



HOLBROOK SCHOOLS. 



The number of scholars attending the various schools in 
the town of Holbrook, for the year 1876, was as follows, viz : — 
Sumner Hill Grammar School, 65 ; Sumner Grammar, 38 ; 
Sumner Intermediate, 59 ; Brookville Intermediate, 35 ; Brook- 
ville Primary, 45; Franklin Primary, 111 ; Lincoln, mixed, 50; 
Roberts, mixed, 50. Total, 453. Since 1876, the Sumner High 
School has been established and placed under the superintend- 
ence of C. H. Goldthwaite. 

The town appropriated $5,000 for school expenses for the 
same year. 



PUBLIC LIBKAEIES. 



At the annual meeting, in 1871, the town of Quincy voted to 
appropriate §2,500 and the dog tax, for tlie purpose of establish- 
ing a free library, provided that an equal sum should be raised 
by private subscription. In accordance with this provision, the 
town was divided into districts, and committees appointed in 
thera to solicit subscriptions. 

By this method the committee was successful in collecting by 
voluntary contribution $2,694.87, in sums ranging from ten cents 
to two hundred dollars, from all ages and classes, which insured 
its success. This amount, with what the town had appropriated, 
placed in the hands of the trustees the sum of 87,236.37, to 
begin the library with. 

The trustees selected a large room in the Adams Academy, 
as it had been offered them, free of rent, as the location for the 
free public library. After considerable delay and disappoint- 
ment in preparing the rooms for the reception of the books, the 
trustees were finally able to open the reading room on Dec. 4th, 
1871. They began the circulation of books on the eleventh of 
the same month. In the first forty-three days the circulation of 
books amounted to 7,050 volumes, which was of an average of 
about 164 per day. The library began with 4,607 volumes, of 
which number 2,458 were presented to it, and 2,149 purchased; 
the library continued to increase until it now contains 11,000 
volumes. 

At the commencement of this institution the largest donor 
was the Hon. Charles F. Adams, who presented the trustees 
with a valuable collection of congressional and other important 
public documents, which comprised 1,650 volumes, making this 
rural library very strong in this department of literature. In 
connection Avith this gift, the managers also received from the 
Quincy Lyceum, 227 volumes ; from the Adams' Literary Asso- 



350 SCHOOLS. 

raised by the town was the income of the Coddington fund, of 
$1,600, in the treasury, and swamp land in Quincy vahxed at 
$500. Town appropriation for schools, 89,550. The whole 
amount of school property in Randolph in 1875, was 832,950. 



HOLBROOK SCHOOLS. 



The number of scholars attending the various schools in 
the town of Holbrook, for the year 1876, was as follows, viz : — 
Sumner Hill Grammar School, 65 ; Sumner Grammar, 38 ; 
Sumner Intermediate, 59 ; Brookville Intermediate, 35 ; Brook- 
ville Primary, 45; Franklin Primary, 111 ; Lincoln, mixed, 50; 
Roberts, mixed, 50. Total, 453. Since 1876, the Sumner High 
School has been established and placed under the superintend- 
ence of C. H. Goldthwaite. 

The town appropriated |5,000 for school expenses for the 
same year. 



PUBLIC LIBEAEIES. 



At tlie annual meeting, in 1871, tlie town of Quincy voted to 
appropriate 82,500 and the dog tax, for the purpose of establish- 
ing a free library, provided that an equal sum should be raised 
by private subscription. In accordance with this provision, the 
town was divided into districts, and committees appointed in 
them to solicit subscriptions. 

By this method the committee was successful in collecting by 
voluntary contribution $2,694.87, in sums ranging from ten cents 
to two hundred dollars, from all ages and classes, which insured 
its success. This amount, with what the town had appropriated, 
placed in the hands of the trustees the sum of $7,236.37, to 
begin the library with. 

The ti'ustees selected a large room in the Adams Academy, 
as it had been offered them, free of rent, as the location for the 
free public library. After considerable delay and disappoint- 
ment in preparing the rooms for the reception of the books, the 
trustees were finally able to open the reading room on Dec. 4th, 
1871. They began the circulation of books on the eleventh of 
the same month. In the first forty-three days the circulation of 
books amounted to 7,050 volumes, which was of an average of 
about 164 per day. The library began with 4,607 volumes, of 
which number 2,458 were presented to it, and 2,149 purchased ; 
the library continued to increase until it now contains 11,000 
volumes. 

At the commencement of this institution the largest donor 
was the Hon. Charles F. Adams, who jjresented the trustees 
with a valuable ooUection of congressional and other important 
public documents, which comprised 1,650 volumes, making this 
rural library very strong in this department of literature. In 
connection with this gift, the managers also received from the 
Quincy Lyceum, 227 volumes ; from the Adams' Literary Asso- 



352 PUBLIC LIBRAEIES. 

ciation, 215; from the Quincy Agricultural Library,*182 ; and 
from the Quincy Book Club, 24 hooks and 625 periodicals. So 
great was the interest of the citizens for its success, that at the 
opening of the reading room, it was supplied with all its reading 
matter at the expense of private individuals. 

In 1874, the trustees of the library were notified that the 
room in the Academy building was wanted for the use of the 
school. In accordance with this notification, the trustees 
engaged the unoccupied Congregational Church, on the corner 
of Canal and Hancock streets, to which place the library was 
moved on the 8th of July. Owing to some necessary delay in 
classifying and re-arranging the books, the library was not 
re-opened until Sept. 16th, 1874. The Quincy Public Library is 
the largest in Norfolk county, with the exception of Brookline ; 
and if the increased circulation of 1878 continues, it will exceed 
that in this respect. 

During the year 1877, the number of books borrowed amounted 
to 45,637, which was the largest since the library was opened. 
Number of days opened to the public, 295 

Average daily issue for the first half of the year, 174 

Average daily issue for the second half of the year, 13^ 

Largest daily issue for the first half of the year, 477 

Largest daily issue for the second half of the year, 406 

"Whole number of books taken in the first half year, 26,239 

Whole number of books taken in the second half year, 19,398 
Number of persons holding cards at the close of the year, 608 

The yearly circulation of the books of the library have been 
as follows : — 

1872,-44,755 volumes. 1875, 11 months, 34,551. 

1873,-40,175 " 1876, 42,968. 

1874,-36,049 " 1877, 45,637. 

Miss Abby I. Hails commenced her duties as the first librarian 
in December, 1871, with Miss Bumpus as an assistant ; owing to 
ill-health. Miss Hails resigned in July, 1873. Miss Cora I.Young 
succeeded Miss Hails, and occupied the position as librarian for 
two years, or until September, 1875, when Miss Mary I. Brooks 
of the Boston Public Library, assumed charge. She remained 
about one year, when she resigned and returned to the Boston 



PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 353 

library. INfiss Amelia L. Buinpus, tlie faithful nssistant, Avho 
has been connected with the library from its beginning, was then 
engaged by the trustees to take charge of it, and has been ably 
assisted by Miss Allie G. White. 



BRAINTREE LIBRARY. 



Gen. Thayer gave a fund to the town of Braintree for the 
estaljlishment of a free library. The building was completed 
during the spring of 1874, at a cost of 130,000. This edifice 
was built of brick with stone trimmings, and is located on the 
town-house land. Owing to the delay of cataloguing and 
arranging the books, the library was not opened to the public 
until Sept. 1st. 

Mr. Thayer also gave to the town a fund of $10,000 for the 
imjirovement of this institution. 

Number of days opened to the public, in 1877, 253 

Circulation of books, 13,919 

Average per day, 55 

Number of borrowers during the year, 1,417 

Whole number of volumes in the library, upwards of 3,700 

Number added during the year, 621 

Largest number loaned in any one day, March 24th, 258 

Percentage of fiction, 72 ; juvenile, 9 ; higher order, 19. 

Miss Abbie M. Arnold is the jji-esent librarian. 



RANDOLPH LIBRARY. 



The Turner I^ree Library is a fine structure, built of granite 
at a cost of ^40,000. This, together with a fund of $10,000, the 
income of which is to be approi)riated for the purchase of books, 
was presented to the town by the heirs of the late Col. Royal 
Turner, an old, wealthy and much-respected citizen of Ran- 
doljth. The building was dedicated with appropriate services, 
April 22d, 1875. The library was opened March 22d, 1876, and 
46 



354 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 

contains six thousand volumes. The town recently purchased 
a fine portrait of this generous donor, at a cost of $1500, and it 
now adorns the walls of the library. The lower part of the 
building is occupied by the Randolph National and Savings 
Banks, for which the fund receives an income of 1300, besides 
an additional sum of $300 of D. B. White, for rent. 

The following extracts from the librarian's report will more 
fully illustrate the practical operations of this institution : — 
Number of days opened to the public, in 1877, 264 

Average daily issue for the first half of the year, 81 

Average daily issue for the second half of the year, 76 

Largest daily issue for the first half of the year, 271 

Largest daily issue for the second half of the year, 264 

Whole number issued the first half of the year, 10,576 

Whole number issued the second half of the year, 10,720 

Number of persons holding cards at the close of the 

first half of the year, 1,433 

Number of persons holding cards at the close of the year, 1,552 
Population of the town at the last State census, 4,064 

About three-fourths of the circulation is fiction ; about two- 
thirds of the remainder is history. 

Mr. Charles C. Farnham is the librarian. 



HOLBROOK LIBRARY. 



There was a very fine library in Holbrook in 1877, but the 
large conflagration which visited that village in December of 
that year, destroyed it. The library contained 2,706 books, of 
which 330 were loaned at the time of the fire, on Christmas 
morning, and consequently saved. The insurance on the library 
was $3,600. The library has been temporarily re-opened at the 
residence of the librarian, Z. Aaron French, Esq., until a new 
town hall is constructed. The appropriation for the library, in 
1877, was $500. 



MILITAKY. 



The colonists, soon after they had completed their civil organ- 
ization, took immediate action, by adoi)ting and making rules 
and regulations for their better protection from expected attacks 
of the Indians. This was accomplished by forming themselves 
into military companies, consisting of infantry alone ; afterwards 
first pike men, then troopers. All male persons, from sixteen to 
sixty years of age, were obliged to do military duty, and were 
required to provide themselves with arms and ammunition at 
their own expense, if able ; if not, at the expense of the toAvn. 
" Their arms of defence were pikes, muskets and swords. Their 
muskets were of the matchlock, or firelock description, and to 
each one of them was a pair of bandoleers, or pouches, for pow- 
der and bullets, and a stick called a rest, used in taking aim." 
The matchlock was an uncertain and troublesome instrument of 
warfare ; it had to be discharged by a fuse, and the powder in 
the pan was liable to be blown out by the wind, and to get 
damp in wet or stormy weather. The length of the pikes were 
ten feet, l)esidcs a spear at the end. The corslet and quilted 
coats were used as a defensive armor. For their better defence, 
they were organized into train-bands, and when they amounted 
to two hundred men, were to be divided into two companies. 
"And it is further ordered by the Court and the authorities 
thereof, that all Scotsmen, Negcrs and Indians, inhabiting with, 
or servant of the English, from tlie age of sixteen to sixty years, 
shal be listed, and hereby arc enjoyncd to attend traynings, as 
well as the English, and that every company shall have two 
drummers; and it is further ordered by the Court and the 
authority thereof, and it is enacted, that when in any town or 
plantation within this jurisdiction, the number of trayned sould- 
gers listed, and by law are to attend constant trayning, shall 
arise to the number of two hundred men, then such souldgers 



356 MILITARY. 

shall be divided into two companies.'" Mass. Rec., Vol. Ill, 
p. 268. 

" The pike men were selected for their superior strength and 
stature ; the musketeers were to be twice the number of the 
pike men. The officers of a band were a captain, a lieutenant, 
an ensign and four sergeants. The commissioned officers carried 
swords, partisans (otherwise called leading-staves) and, if they 
saw fit, pistols. The sergeants bore halberds ; this instrument 
was a combination of a spear and battle-axe. At first, traynings 
were ordered to take place evei-y Saturday, then every month, 
then eight tinges a year." The honor of a military office was 
much esteemed. "John Hull, a thriving Boston merchant, chosen 
coporal in 1048, praises God for giving him acceptance and favor 
in the eyes of his people, and as a fruit thereof, advancement 
above his deserts." (Diary in Archaeology, Ames, Vol. Ill, p. 
145.) When six years later, he was promoted to be an ensign, he 
recorded his prayer, " beseeching that the good Lord, who only 
can, would jileasc to make me able and fit for, and faithful in 
the place I am called unto, that I may with a spirit of wisdom 
and humility, love and faithfulness, obey my superiors, so also 
be exemplary and faithful to my inferiors." Ibid, 147. 

The celebrated Indian chief, Kuchmakin, or as most commonly 
called, Cutshamokin, was an inhabitant of Braintree, and "was 
among the first of the noted Indian Sachems of New England, 
with his people, to attend Mr. Eliot's preaching. Previously, he 
had been opposed to the English settling here, but after consid- 
eration, he soon became reconciled and a christian. On being 
asked by Mr. Eliot, wdiy he was so oj^posed to his people becom- 
ing christians, he replied by saying, " they would pay him no 
tribute " ; thus standing upon his dignity, considering that hom- 
age was as much due him as chief of the rude red men of his 
native forests, as it Avas to civilized rulers. This noted chief 
was on intimate and friendly terms wnth the colonists, and was 
frequently engaged by Gov. Winthrop as arbitrator to conciliate 
differences between the Avhites and hostile, as well as friendly, 
Indians. Friendly as the Indians appeared to be, still the gov- 
ernment w^as apprehensive and suspicious of their honesty, w'ell 
knowing that their characteristic disposition was treacherous, 



UriLITART. 357 

and therefore they needed the utmost watchfulness. In 1642, 
the Court at Connecticut was informed that the Indians 
had combined to attempt a general massacre of the colonists 
soon after the annual harvest, and despatched a courier to the 
Massachusetts Colony to notify them of the impending danger. 
Upon the reception of this intelligence, Gov. Winthrop, (the 
General Court not then being in session) notified as many of the 
magistrates as were near, to assemble for the purpose of calling 
an extra session. The magistrates immediately convened, and 
after due consideration, whether the advice was reliable or not, 
concluded to call them together. 

Winthrop says, "they sent out summons for a General Court, 
to be kept six days after, and in the mean time, if it M'^as thought 
fit for our safety and to strike some terror into the Indians, to 
disarm such as were within our jurisdiction. Accordingly, we 
sent men to Cutshamokin, at Braintree, to fetch him and his 
guns, bows, etc., which was done. He came willingly, and it 
being late in the night when they reached Boston, he was put 
in prison, but the next morning, finding upon examination of 
him and divers of his men, no ground of suspicion of his par- 
taking in such conspiracy, he was dismissed." 

In 1643, Cutshamokin with other chiefs, desiring the protec- 
tion of the white man's government, called upon the Governor 
for that purpose. The terms upon which they were to receive 
this gift was, that they should renounce their religion, and agree 
to the prescribed rules of the colony and " all the ten command- 
ments of God." After some consideration, they finally con- 
sented. As soon as they had become proselytes, they Avere 
solemnly received by the authorities, to Avhom the chiefs pre- 
sented twenty-six fathoms of wampum.^ Not to be outdone by 
this act of courtesy on the part of the Indians, the Court gave 
" them a coat of two yards of cloth and their dinner, and to 
them and every one of their men, a cup of sac at their departure ; 
so they went away very joyful," if not intoxicated. 

In 1646, Cutshamokin was engaged to settle the dispute be- 



1. "A fathom of wampum was one string of Indian beads, six feet or a 
fathom in length, which was valned at five pounds, eight ponce, sterling." 



358 MILITARY. 

tween the Colonies and the Nianticks, a tribe of the Narragan- 
setts, in reference to the tribute they were to pay the Colonial 
Government. 

Ammunition was very scarce in the Colonies at this time, and 
obtained with great difficulty ; so much so, that the General 
Court issued an order, June 14th, 1642, for the military com- 
panies in each town to manufacture saltpetre for making gun- 
powder.^ Martin Saunders was appointed in Braintree to see 
this order enforced. 

In September following, the court enacted a law apportioning 
to each town the amount of powder they were entitled to, for 
the purpose of supplying their military with ammunition to pro- 
tect them from a sudden attack of the Indians. Braintree's 
l^ortion wns one barrel.^ 

The first military commander in Braintree was Capt. Robert 
Keyne, who Avas sent from Boston, to organize and di'ill them 
for proper military duty. 

1. "And being willing to lay hold on, and use all such means as God shall 
direct us unto, as may tend to the raising and producing such material amongst 
ourselves, as may perfect the making of gunpowder, the instrumental means 
that all nations lay hold on for their preservation, (having too much neglected 
to take due course, which we might have done, ) do order and decree that every 
plantation within this Colony shall erect an house in length about twenty or 
thirty feet, and twenty feet wide, within one-half year next coming; into which 
house we desire and enjoyn the officers of each military company in each town 
to see, and cause a sufficient quantity of earth by their company or otherwise, 
yearly to bee carried, and twice in every year, or oftener, the earth from its 
foundation, by them to be stirred and removed from one end thereof to the 
other, from the bottom to the top, mixing such urine of men and beasts with 
goates', henns', hoggs' and horses' dung, as sliall be by the careful! and con- 
scionable members of this Commonwealth brought to bee dispeirst and scat- 
tered amouugst the said earth, the company not leaving off bringing more earth 
into the said house till it shall come within two feet of the wall plate of the 
same, and for the further improving of what is above ordered and decreed, we 
declare that all such inhabitants of every town shall cause urine of their fam- 
ilies in some such place to be put up and kept, as that it may be in due time 
brought and disposed in said house." Mass. Kec. Vol. II, p. 17. 

2. "This court taking into serious consideration the present danger of each 
plantation by the desperate plots and conspiracies of the heathen, as also that 
they might be furnished with such stores of powder as may prevent any sudden 
invasion, have thought it meet to supply the towns witli powder. Braintree's 
portion, one barrel." 



MILITARY. 359 

The second in command was William Ting, who received his 
commission as captain of the company. The third was Mr. 
Kicliard Brackett, who, after the resignation of Captain Ting, 
was commissioned Ly the court as commander, and lield his 
commission until he was seventy-three years of age, Avhen he 
resigned.^ 

By the time the inhabitants of the town had fairly settled 
down into their peaceable agricultural pursuits, they were called 
upon to take an active part in the Indian wars. These Narra- 
gansett wars, under the celebrated Indian chiefs, Pessacus, Nini- 
gret and King Philip, were a severe trial for the early settlers, 
and drew hard upon their limited resources, and nearly proved 
fatal to the settlement of the Colonies. They finally conquered, 
not without severe losses, however. 

Bancroft says that " twelve or thirteen towns were destroyed, 
as many as six hundred houses burnt, and the disbursements 
and losses equalled in value half a million of dollars — an enor- 
mous sum for the few of that day. More than six hundred men, 
chiefly young men, the flower of the country, of whom any 
mother might have been proud, perished in the field. Of the 
able-bodied men in the Colony, one in twenty had fallen, and 
one family in twenty had been burnt out. The loss of property 
and lives were, in proportion to their numbers, as distressing as 
any in the Revolutionary Avar. There was scarcely a family 
from which death had not selected a victim. Let us not forget 
a generous deed of the generous Irish ; as they sent over a con- 
tribution — small, it is true — to relieve in part the distresses of 
the Plymouth Colony." 

So severe was the draft upon the Colonies for able-bodied 
men to go to the war, that the youth from ten to sixteen years 
of age, were by law obliged to be instructed in the art or war- 
fare, to protect their homes and friends while their fathers and 

]. " IfxSi, Oct. 15. On the request of Capt. Richard Brackett, heiiij: above 
seventy-three year.s of age, and iulinuities of age upon liim, having desired 
formerly, and now ahso to lie down his place as chief military commander in 
IJraintree, the court granted his request, and order that Lieftenant Edmund 
Quincy be captain of the foot company iu Braiutree, in his room, and Robert 
Twelves his lieftenant, and Samuel Tompsou ensign." 



360 MILITAEY. 

elder brothers were away upon the fiekl of strife. The follow- 
ing is the law enacted in 1645, for this purpose : — 

" Whereas, it is conceived that the training up of youth to the 
art and practice of arms will be of great use in the country in 
divers respects, and among the rest that the bows and arrows 
may be of good concernment in defect of power upon any occa- 
sion. It is therefore ordered, that all youth within this jurisdic- 
tion, from ten years old to the age of sixteen years, shall be 
instructed by some one of the officers of the band, or some 
other experienced soldier, whom the chief officer shall appoint, 
ujion the usual training days, in the exercise of arms, as small 
guns, half pikes, bows and arrows, etc., according to the discre- 
tion of the said officers or soldiers." Colonial Laws, p. 734. 

In these Indian wars, at this ecclesiastical period of the Colo- 
nies, soldiers would not even approach the field of battle with- 
out holding a religious controversy, as Neal relates that " the 
troops going to the Pequot War deemed it necessary to halt on 
their march to Connecticut, in order to decide the question 
whether they were under a covenant of grace or a covenant of 
works, believing it improj^er to advance until that momentous 
question was settled." They might as well have debated the 
question whether humanity would have been more benefited by 
tweedledum or tweed ledee. 

Mather says, that Mason and Underbill, in their conflict with 
the Pequots, on the day of strife, brought down to hell from 
five hundred to six hundred Pequot souls. 

Tlie first draft ordered on Braintree for soldiers, was Aug. 
5th, 1645, to fill a quota of two hundred men, to go to Narra- 
gansett. 

" It is ordered, three horses should be pressed from Dorches- 
ter, Braintree and Weymouth, with sadles and bridles, to be at 
Boston by 7 of the clock in the morning, the 18th of this 6th 
month, to go to the Narragansetts." The Rev. Mr. Tompson, 
pastor of the First Church of Braintree, was selected as chaplain 
for the occasion. The commissary supply for this undertaking 
was as follows : — " 1645. A note of particulars of what pro- 
visions will be needful for the present expedition for the supply 
of two hundred (200) men : Bread, tenn thousand j pease, three 



MILITARY. 



361 



hogsheads ; beif, six hogsheads cut into messe peeces ; fish, tenn 
kintalls; oylc, tenu gallons; vinegar, one hogsheade; strong 
water, one hogsheade ; wine, at your pleasure ; Leare, one tunn ; 
oateraeale, one hogsheade; flower, two hogsheads; butter, sixe 
firkins; raisings of the sunne, two barrells ; shugar, one-half C. 
for sick men ; candells, one dussen ; hatchets and axes, twelve ; 
canvis, fortye yards ; spades and shovels, thirtye ; pick axes, 
sixe; kettles for boyling victuals, six; platters, thirtye-sixe ; 
payles, tenn ; canns or potts, twenty ; salt, one hogsheade; 200 
fathoms of cod line."— Mass. Rec, Vol. II, p. 124. 

Mr. Cobbet, in his manuscript narrative, gives the following 
account of this enterprise : — 

"In the year 1645, proud Pessacus with his Narragansetts, 
with whom Ninigret and his Niantigs joined, so as to provoke 
the English to a just war against them. And accordingly, forces 
were sent from all the towns to meet at Bostop, and did so, and 
had a party of fifty horse to go with them under Mr. Leveret, 
as the captain of the horse. Edward Gibbons was commander- 
in-chief, and 3fr. Tompson, pastor of the Church in Braintree^ 
was to sound the silver trumpet along with his army. But they 
were met by the deputies from Pessacus, and the other chiefs, 
and the following accommodation took place : ' It was demanded 
of them that they should defray the charges they had put the 
English to, and that the sachems should send their sons to be 
kept as hostages in the hands of the English, until such time as 
the money should be paid.' After remarking that from this 
time the Narragansetts harbored venom in their hearts against 
the English, Mr. Mather proceeds : ' In the first place, they 
endeavored to play legerdemain in their sending hostages, for 
instead of sachem's children, they thought to send some others, 
and to make the English believe that those base papooses were 
of a royal progeny ; but they had those to deal with who were 
too wise to be so eluded. After the expected hostages were in 
the hands of the English, the Narragansetts, notwithstanding 
that, were slow in the performance of what they stood engaged 
for. And when, upon an impartial discharge of the debt, their 
hostages were restored to them, they became more backward 
than formerly, until they were by hostile preparations again and 

47 



362 MILITARY. 

again terrified into better obedience. At last, Caj3t. Atherton 
of Dorchester, was sent with a small party of twenty Englisli 
soldiers to demand what was due. He at first entered into the 
wigwam where old Ninigret resided, with only two or three 
soldiers, appointing the rest by degrees to follow him, two or 
three dropi)ing in at once ; when his small company were come 
about him, the Indians in the mean time supposing that there 
had been many more behind, he caught the sachem by the hair 
of his head, and setting a pistol to his breast, protested whoever 
escaped he should surely die, if he did not forthwith comply 
with what was required. Hereupon a great trembling and con- 
sternation surprised the Indians; albeit, multitudes of them 
were then present, with spiked an-ows at their bow strings 
ready to let fly. The event was, the Indians submitted, and 
not one drop of blood was shed.'" 

During these Indian wars the Colonists found great difficulty 
in the transportation of their heavy ordinance into deep morasses 
and swamps in pursuit of the Indians, the place of their usual 
retreat, and desiring something lighter which they could more 
easily and rapidly handle in case of a sudden attack, or enable 
them to mount the enemy's embankments with greater expedi- 
tion, asked the Legislature for assistance. The General Court 
to relieve them of this embarrassment passed an order Nov. 11th, 
1647, for the importation of leather guns, viz : — " For the more 
easy and speedy transporting of great artilery when and Avhere ; 
also, sometimes cattell, carriages, canon and field peeces cannot 
passe, as also upon some suddame design to mount for advantage 
in an enemies workes, this Court doth order that there be, by 
direction of the major generall, 3 or 4 leather guns, of severall 
sizes, sent for to England by the first oportunity, at the charge 
of the country, Avhich if found good and profitable may give 
light and incouragement for the procuring or making of more." — 
Mass. Rec, Vol. II, p. 219. 

In 1654, it became necessary to finish and put in order, the 
fort on Castle Island for the defence of Boston Harbor. But 
how to accomplish this object was the great question, as the 
County Treasury was bankrupt. After considerable consulta- 
tion, the military commanders concluded to detach several of 



MILITARY. 363 

tlie militnry companies from various towns in the vicinity of 
Boston, and orders from tlio proper authorities Avere immedi- 
ately given for this purpose.^ 

The 3d of Oct., 1654, the Governor called his Council together 
at Boston, for the purpose of considering the report of the com- 
missioners recently returned from Hartford, in reference to the 
threatening aots of the Indian chief, Ninigret. After consulta- 
tion, matters appearing so urgent and the time so short before 
the expected attack of the Indians upon the Colony, that there 
Avas no time to convene the General Court, therefore it was 
ordered that the Secretary of State forthwith issue a warrant to 
the military committee of each town to levy and "impress" 
their proportional number of one hundred and fifty-three foot 
soldiers. The quota from Braintree was four men. The Indians 
continued to harass the towns in the Colony for a long time. 
Feb. 25th, 1675, they made a raid on the town of Braintree and 
killed four persons — three males and one female. We have not 
been able to ascertain the name of but one of the four, and that 
was Nathaniel Mott.^ liiohard Chapman was killed the year 
after — March 2d, 1676. The Mass. Historical Collection gives 
the following account of this incident' : — " They killed four at 

1. " Foreasmuch as the County is in debt, no stock in treasury to finish the 
Castle, which yett is necessary forthwith to be done, it is therefore ordered, the 
military of twelve nigh-towns, viz:— Hull, Hingham, "Weymouth, Braintree, 
Dedhani, Dorchester, Roxbury, Charlestown, Cambridge, Watertown, Maulden 
and "Woobourn, shall in leiwe of their four next days' training, allow three 
days at the Castle this Summer, to be ordered for their time of attending that 
service, place of working and the number to bo employed at one time, by the 
Committee for the Castle. 

" Major Edward Gibbons and Capt. Humphrey Athcrton, who, together with 
the chief officers of the company employed, shall order and direct the several 
employments, and that the rest of the companies iu this jurisdiction shall allow 
for every soldier in their respective companies, four shillings and six peuco, to 
be employed and improved about or upon the said Castle; for which thej' shall 
be exempted from their four next training days, (Boston only to be exempted), 
whome this court concludes will not suffer any of their neighbors to exceed or 
acquailize them in this kind, they having this Spring bestowed and expended 
much for the fortifying the town of Boston." 

2. See Braintree Town Records. 

3. From Rev. IMr. Niles's history of the French and Indian wars, published 
iu the Mass. Hist. vSoc. Col. Mr. Niles was pastor of the Braintree church. 



364 MILITARY. 

Braintree — three men and one -woman. The woman they car- 
ried about six or seven miles, and then killed her and hung her 
up in an unseemly and barbarous manner, by the wayside lead- 
ing from Braintree to Bridgewater." The woman could not 
have been Mrs. Reed, as she was captured at Casco Bay and 
carried to Canada, where she was redeemed and brought back 
to Braintree, at which place she died May 16th, 1691. 

The following named " troopers " were " impressed " fi-om 
Braintree, Dec. 3d, 1675, and were mustered into Capt, Davis's 
Company: — " Joseph Parmenter, Martin Saunders, Joseph Crosly, 
Ebenezer Hayden, Samuel Hayden, Jacob Nash, John Ripley." 
—Mass. Arch., Vol. LXVIII, p. 84. 

The following named persons were " impressed " from Brain- 
tree for Captain Johnson's Company, in 1675, viz : — " Ebenezer 
Owens, Samuel Bass, William Sable, (probably Savil), Thomas 
Holbrook, Richard Thayer, Martin Saunders, Francis Nash, In- 
crease Niles, James Atkins, Henry Bartlett, Thomas Copeland, 
James Pitcher." — Mass. Arch., p. 67. 

These Indian raids caused the town to establish a garrison on 
its frontier towards Bridgewater. The military committee of 
the town selected Mr. Richard Thayer to take charge of this 
important post, who proved to be a very unreliable and untrust- 
worthy person for the position. He was in the habit of- giving, 
or instrumental in giving, false alarms, which created great anx- 
iety and fear among the inhabitants of the town, and caused the 
military committee a heavy extra expense in procuring English- 
men and friendly Indians to scout the woods. He presented to 
the town an exorbitant bill for his services, which they refused 
to pay. U]3on this, he jietitioned the CTOvernor and Council for 
a redress of grievances. This petition was full of misrepresen- 
tations, among which he Stated that he ran a great risk of his 
life in the capture of the celebrated murderer, Indian John, 
when it was proved that this Indian had surrendered himself, 
and Captain Brackett conveyed him to Boston, where the Coun- 
cil rendered a verdict that he should be banished from the coun- 
try. The following note will explain this matter.^ 

1. The following is Mr. Thaj'er's petition for a redress of grievances :— 

" I, the underwritten, doo humbly petition the Honourable Council], now set- 



MILITAKY. 365 

This Mr. Tliayer -was probably the person that subsequently 
gave the town so much trouble in claiming the whole township 
as his property. 

The state of prosperous repose which the New England Col- 
ting in Boston, in New England, that your honours would be pleased of your 
wisdom and clemency to consider the coudition of your petitioner; Your peti- 
tioner having been out so considerably; firstly, iu raising a suffislisione fortifi- 
cation against the enemy. . Seckoudly, furnishing ye same with thirteen fire 
Arms, all well fixt out of the goon smith's hands, with Ammonition accord- 
ingly; all which hatli been done at the cost and charge of your petitioner; he 
being then resolved there to live and die in the defence of the peace of his King 
and country, if assulted by the enemy. It being the frontier garrison to the 
enemy and your petitioner being but himself and liis brother and too Sons, did 
expect soome favour from ye Commision officer of Brantry, in point of pressing 
for ye prasent security; but instead thereof your petitioner do judge they liavo 
declared very incuriously with him; by pressing too out of the garrison, there 
being but four in the whole; notwithstanding three fire Arms your petitioner 
had out all the ware time; one of which was lost at Naragansett, and another 
in Captain turner's fight; so that there was but one returned, and that with a 
great deal of trouble; and further, your petitioner being then resolved to with- 
stand the enemy, he went to the Commission officers and told them that he did 
expect a share of ye toun's stock of Ammonition; they being then dividing of 
it to the several garrisons, soome ten pounds, soome twelve pounds; but refused 
to let your petitioner have any, and with all of the enemy come upon him, ha 
must not expect any help from them; and being thus left without protection, 
thought good to petition your honours for A Medigation in some of my Rates, 
if your honours in your wisdom shall see cause; if not, I do humbly crave yt 
your honours would be pleased to suspend ye payment of my Rates for this 
year, I being behind hand and my disbursments great, byy the putting A Corn 
Mill and fulling Mill to work, and if iu your wisdom your honours shall see 
cause to answer my petition, your petitioner for your honours' happiness shall 
forever pray. 

"There is John George, also an Indian enemy which your petitioner un- 
trusted his life for by fetching him iu, he appearing within call of your peti- 
tioner's garri.son, and ordered unto him by the honourable Councill; by which 
five weeks after, was taken away by Capt. Ricliard Brackett, without any 
satisfaction for the same. Richard Thayer." 

Mass. Arch., Vol. LXIX, p. 17(1. 

The following is the report of the Military Committee with the exception of a 
few words, which were lost by the breaking of the paper where it was folded: — 

" Braintree, 2f)th December, KiTT. 

" 1st, In obedience to the Hon. Councel, we whose names are underwritten hav- 
ing examined the Petition of Richard Thayer, of Braintry, dated by Mr. Rawson, 
Secretary, upon the 13th of thi.s instant, December, and doe herein make this 
Report to the Hon. Council siting in Boston, that the Petitioner doo charge us 



366 MILITARY. 

ony enjoyed for several years was interrupted by a general con- 
spiracy of the Narragansett Indians under King Philip, in which 
a number of the inhabitants of this town took an active part. 
In 1690, the town was called upon to draft thirteen men to go 

as we humbly conceive unjustly, as if we had not allowed him his disburst- 
ments; which we have done what the law does allow, as for loss of arms, sadles, 
bridles, halters, provissions, ammunition, to the value of fifty-six shillings, 
which is his full due as to our understandings; but not in our power to allow 
him his rates, payed by the former Constables, which he demanded by his bill 
drawrne and presented to us, and our return made upon the backeside, left with 
Mr. Rawson herwith. 

" 2d, fEor his garrison he would not be at our Apointment, therefo may blame 
liimselfe being at so much charge and hazard as he complaines; also, his house 
stood in the centre of the garrisons which we apointed, therefore not so much 
danger as he asserts. And by reason of ye Petitioner's tiraerousness, the town 
was at some pounds' cliarge for Indian and English scouting in the woods to 
quiet him and some others, who did often endeaver to posess us with great dan- 
ger tliey were in; your Petitioner also charges us with injurious dealings in 
pressing of some of his garrison, they being few in number. We say it was 
his owne fault they were so few, because he would not attend our order; and 
yet * * * (lid spare liira uutill the exspedition in the Winter to Narragan- 
sett: then he * * a * * souldier that was sent from Dedham ; his having 
so many fire-arms out is more than we have knowledge of; one we grant was 
lost and he is allowed for it. 

"3d, As for the town stock we doe not remember he came for any and doe 
judge he did not deserve it, he being unwilling to be ordered (and those that 
had any iugaged to return it againe. ) And whereas your Petitioner reports he 
ventured his life for John Indian we conceive not, for he was so feeble and 
weake that he came creeping under the fences, and not able for any action, be- 
ing without arms; and he being justly suspected to be a murderer, was threat- 
ened to be killed by some. Therefore our Capt. Richard Brackett brought him 
to Boston and the Hon. Council sentenced him to be sent out of the countrey. 
And lastly, he supplicating for a medigation of liis Rates; we have many more 
would be glad of the like favor. 

Yo'r Serv'ts duty and observance, 

RiCHAllD Br.\CKETT, 

Edmund Quinsey, 
Robert Twelves, 
Military Committee for the town of Braintree." 

The following is a copy of one of Mr. Thayer's bills as presented to the town : — 
1677. 
"By account of the particulars for the Countrey's service. 

a liorse six weeks, ....-- 

a saddell, ..... 

sterrep, leathers and sterrep irons, . . . - 

a bridell and halter and girts, .... 



£ 


s. 


D. 





9 








15 








4 








5 






MILITARY. 367 

on that unfortunate expedition to Quebec, under Sir AVilliam 
Phips. The Colonists were defeated after a sharp encounter, 
and finally compelled to make a precipitate retreat, and the 
fleet, after sustaining great damage on its homeward voyage, 
returned to Boston. Such was the unfortunate issue of an en- 
terprise which involved Massachusetts in an enormous expense, 
and cost the lives of at least a thousand of her inhabitants ; also, 
quite a loss to this town by the death of several of her citizens 
who contracted the small-pox on board the fleet, of which they 
died. 

" The 9th day of August, there went soldiers to Canada, in the 
year 1690, and the small-pox was abord, and they died six of it ; 
four thrown overbord at Cap An. Corporal John Parmtr, Isaak 
Thayer, Ephrim Copeland and Ebenezer Owen — they and Sam- 
uell Bas and John Cheny, was thrown overbord at Nantaskett." 
— Braintree Town Records. John Harbor and Joseph Penniman ^J 
died in a short time after arriving home. 

" During the absence of the forces," says Cotton Mather, " the 
wheels of prayer for them in New England had been continually 
going round." This spiritual co-operation did not accomplish 
much for an army that had neglected to properly provision and 
equij) themselves against the well-drilled forces of the French. 

By the following letter, written by Edmund Quincy, comman- 
der of the Braintree militia, to the Governor and Council, there 



"By fifteen shilliugs in money payed to William Ueasy, 

two pounds, three shillings, four pence, payed to Wm. Ueasy, 

two pounds, three shillinf^s, four pence, payed to Cristiner Weab, 

neckles bond, his hire to the Narragauset service, 

a goon to the said bond, . . . . . 

Provissious and Ammunission, . - . - 

Provissions and Ammunissions at his second going out, 

too shillings in money payed to Jonnathau Padelford and Martin 

Sacan for guarding me to hingoni to fetch the second goon, - 
too shillings in money payed John Hoffenboru to go out with ye 

Indian scouts that was allowed us by the Councill, 2 

five weeks keeping of John Jorgo who was ordered unto me by 

ye honoured Counsell and afterwards taken out of my hands 

by Capt. Kichard Brackett, - - - - 15 

besids the losse of my Indian service so ordered. 

KlCUAUD TUAYER." 



£ 


s. 


r>. 





15 





2 


Z 


4 


2 


3 


4 


3 








1 


5 








() 








() 






368 MILITARY. 

seems to have been considerable insubordination among those 
wlio were drafted in Braintree for an expedition to Canada : — 

"Brantky, July, 1689. 
" Therefore this is to signify, To the Honorable Governor and 
Council setting at Boston, That I have taken all the pains, and 
used all means to pursuade men, but by reason of Bad Councill 
by some evil persons with us, that discourage our men, that out 
of 13 men impressed there is not but two or three who will go. 
I can do no more, without there be some sent for and made ex- 
amjjle to the rest. To behold such a spirit, is of an awfull con- 
sideration. 

"I beg your advice and direction what I shall do. To day 5 
or 6 come to my house, all left fell off. 

Humble Servant, 

Edmund Quinsey." 

The names of those who would not obey : — " Caleb Hobart, 
William Nightingale, ffrancis Almy, Josiah Haiden, Joseph Pen- 
niman, Josiah Belcher, Thomas Copeland." 

Benjamin Ludden, as will be seen by the preface to his will,^ 
is an illustration of the spirit of the times. He was one of the 
soldiers engaged in the Indian wars, who appears to have been 
insiHi-ed with the same ardor and religious enthusiasm as the 
knights of old on their crusade to the Holy Land, in their con- 
flict and descent on Palestine for the recovery of Jerusalem 
from the infidels. 

The treaty at Eyswick produced a lull in the storm of cruel 
warfare which had so long hung upon the English frontiers, con- 
tinually menacing the Colonists with wide-spread destruction. 

1. " I, Benjamin Ludden, in New England, being now called for thas a soul- 
dier in the time of great distress for to fight the Lord's battles against the 
bloody enemies of the Christ and people of God in New England, namely, 
those Auti Christians and bloody ffrench, together with those Bloody, Marther- 
ous and Salvage Indians, And considering whether I may return again with 
my life to see my parents, wife and relations, Committing my soul to God that 
gave it, through the precious blood of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and my body 
to the dust from whence I came, Hopping that both soul and body shall be 
raised up by the power of my Redeemer and meet together at the day of Res- 
urectiou when I shall enjoy the blessed presence of Jesus Christ, Saints, An- 
gels, and that to all eternity." Suff. Prob. Rec, Vol. VIII, p. 23. 1G90. 



MILITARY. 369 

It was very brief- however, for pretexts for another war were 
soon found. James the Second died in September, 1701. While 
an exile he had been sheltered by Louis the Fourteenth, who 
acknowledged his son Charles Edward, the pretender, as the 
lawful heir to the English throne. This seriously offended the 
English, as the crown had been given to Anne, the second 
daughter of James, who was considered a Protestant. In con- 
nection with this, and other causes, England considered it a 
sufficient pretext to declare war with France. In 1702,. hostili- 
ties began, which continued until the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713. 
During this conflict the Colonists suffered much from the cruel- 
ties of the Indians, who were under the influence of the French, 
and Braintree was obliged to bear her j^rojjortion in supplying 
men and means in carrying on this unfortunate conflict. This 
was called Queen Anne's War. 

In 1707, the town had so increased in population that they 
were able to organize two military companies ; one in the north 
part of the town, which consisted of seventy-two families, under 
command of Edmund Quincy ; and one in the south part, or 
what is now called Braintree, consisted of seventy-one families, 
under the command of Capt. John Mills. 

We have nothing material to relate of military matters from 
this time until 1739, when Col. Joseph Gooch came to Braintree 
and was chosen moderator of a town meeting. At this time, 
this curious individual commenced his military and political in- 
trigues. 

He was supposed to have been born in Boston — a man of 
property and education, and a lawyer by profession. Finding 
that his secret manipulations would not avail him much in Bos- 
ton, he came here and became a churchman, and immediately 
commenced his plottings with Mr. Miller and Mr. Apthorp, in- 
fluential friends of Governor Shirley, promising them, if they 
would send him as representative to the General Court and 
procure liim the position of colonel of the regiment, he would 
build them a tower for their church at his own expense. This 
proposition appears to have been satisfactory, as he was elected 
representative and received his commission as colonel of the 
regiment. This purchased popularity soon vanished ; the third 

48 



370 MILITARY. 

year the inhabitants of the town decided not to re-elect him. 
This caused him to become so indignant that he declared he 
would no longer reside in Braintree, nor construct a steeple for 
the church. He removed to Milton Hill, and there built him a 
house, which was called the Church-hill House, where he resided 
about thirty years.^ 

After a quietude of some years, Governor Shirley concluded 
to have another trial of militaiy strength with the French. 

1. 17G0. Mr. John Adams gives the following singular intrigue of Colonel 
Gooch to dispossess Colonel Quincy of his regiment, by means of Dr. Miller's 
and Mr. Apthorp's influence: — 

"Joseph Gooch, a native, I believe, of Boston, had considerable property, 
and was reported and reputed to be very rich. He had been educated at the 
Temple in England, and returned to Boston to practice law; he had very little 
success. He had been a man of pleasure, and bore the indelible marks of it 
on his face to the grave. He was extremely ambitious, and the Rev. Mr. Niles, 
of the second parish in Braintree, who was well acquainted with him, told me 
he was the most passionate man he ever knew. Not succeeding at the bar in 
Boston, he had recourse to religion to assist him; joined the Old South Church, 
to avail himself of the influence of the sisterhood, and set up for representative 
for the town of Boston; but failed, and disappointed of his hopes in law and 
politics, he renounced the city, came up to Quincy, hired a house, turned 
churchman and set himself to intriguing for promotion, both in the military 
and civil deiJartments. He interceded with the favorites of Governor Shirley, 
in this place, to procure him the commission of colonel in the regiment of mili- 
tia, and an election for representative of the town in the General Court. He 
promised to build a steeple to their church, at his own expense. 

"Assiduous importunity was employed with Governor Shirley to procure him 
the command of the regiment; but this could not be obtained without cashier- 
ing the colonel then in possession, and who had long been in possession of that 
oflice, and given universal satisfaction in it. 

" Colonel John Quincy had been in public life from his early youth. He had 
been near twenty years Speaker of the House of Representatives, and many 
years a member of His Majesty's Council, and was as much esteemed and re- 
spected as any man in the province. He was not only an experienced and ven- 
erated Statesman, but a man of letters, taste and sense. Shirley was, with 
great ditiiculty, prevailed on to perform the operation of dismissing so faithful 
a servant of the public, and adoi^ting one of so equivocal a character; and he 
said some years afterwards, that nothing he had ever done in his administration 
had given him so much pain, as removing so venerable a magistrate and officer 
as Colonel Quincy. But the church party had insisted upon it so i)eremi)torily, 
that he could not avoid it. Probably he dreaded their remonstrances to the 
Archbishop of Canterbury. 

"These facts were currently reported and universally believed, and never 
contradicted. 



MILTTAKY. 371 

Early in January, 1744, he called the General Court together, in 
secret session, to consider the expediency of an attack on Louis- 
burg. After several days of deliberation and earnest discussion, 
this projected expedition was voted in the negative. Governor 
Shirley not desiring to have this favorite enterprise of his de- 
feated, managed to have by a little intrigue, the most substantial 
and influential merchants of the several large towns to petition 
for another hearing. In compliance Avith these petitions, the 
Assembly again considered this great question. Their delibera- 
tions were conducted with calmness and moderation. After a 
long debate, a resolution was passed in favor of thi's expedition 

" Gooch was appointed colonel, and Quincy dismissed. The next thing to be 
done, was to new model the subordinate officers in the regiment. Application 
was made to all the captains, lieutenants and ensigns, in that part of the regi- 
ment which lies within three parishes of the ancient town of Braintree, to see 
if they would accept commissions under Colonel Gooch, and agree to vote for 
him as representative for the town. The then present officers were men among 
the most respectable of the inhabitants, in point of propertj', understanding and 
character. They rejected the proposition with scorn. 

" My father was among them ; he was offered a captain's commission. He 
spurned the offer with disdain; would serve in the militia under no colonel but 
Quincy. Almost, or quite an entire set of new officers were appointed through 
the whole town. These were of a very different character from those who were 
dismissed. Men of little property or no property at all; men of frivolous char- 
acter in understanding and morals. 

" It was at this time the corrupt practice of treating, as they called it, at 
training and at elections was introduced, which so long prevailed in the town 
of Braintree. All this corruption, young as I was, I attributed to the King of 
Great Britain and his Governor and their bigoted Episcopal party ; and, young 
as I was, I was thoroughly disgusted before I was ten years of age. 

" Gooch imder the influence of all this machinery, obtained an election as 
representative, but the next year all the substantial people of the town aroused 
themselves and turned him out,* which so enraged him that he swore he would 
no longer live in Braintree ; renounced the church, refused to build their 
steeple, built him a house on Milton Hill, and there passed the remainder of his 
days."— Adams's Works, Vol. II, p. 93. 

* We think INIr. Adams is mistaken in his statement that Mr. Gooch was 
chosen but one year as deputy for the town, as the House Journal of. the IjCgis- 
lature, and the town records make it appear that he was elected for the two 
years of 1742-3, and acted as such. This was a pardonable error of Mr. Adams, 
for this account of Col. Gooch wag evidently written up from memory, or tradi- 
tion, years after it happened, as Mr. Adams was only about seven years of age 
when this episode occurred. 



372 MILITARY. 

by one vote.^ A number of men enlisted and were impressed 
from Braintree to take part in this expedition to Louisburg, 
Cape Breton. The Colonists, after a brilliant attack on this 
Gibraltar of America, were successful, which caused great re- 
joicing throughout the Colonies. 

The first three inter-colonial wars or conflicts, between the 
English and French Colonies, already mentioned, had their 
origin by the disagreement of the home governments, with 
their neighbors across the channel, who brouglit their hostili- 
ties to American soil, and plunged the Colonies into a bloody 
and expensive war. The fourth and last conflict was called 
the French and Indian War. The termination of this territorial 
war resulted in establishing the supremacy of the English over 
the American Colonies. This war continued for seA^en years, or 
from 1756 to 1763. 

From the provincial muster roll we Imve selected the names 
of persons from the town of Braintree, who were engaged in the 
various campaigns. We do not pretend that Ave liave given the 
names of all the persons that Avent to the Indian Avars, as they 
are scattered through a great number of miscellaneous muster 
rolls, and to find all of them you Avould be as successful as 
looking for a needle in a hay-stack. The place of residence 
of the captains Ave have given where they were designated 
in the muster roll. The readers have the same opportunity 
of conjectui'ing where those that Ave have not given Avere 
located as Ave have, and perhaps more so. We have endeaA'- 
ored to give as correct a list as Ave were able to find, Avhich 
is as follows : — 



1. " Among the members of this assembly, were two persons who afterwards 
acted a conspicuous part in the most interesting scenes of American History. 
Hutchinson, who became the historian and Governor of Massachusetts; and 
Oliver who was associated with him in political sentiment, and in command as 
Lieutenant-Governor. Both had expressed their disapprobation of the expedi- 
tion. As OliA'er was repairing to the house on the day when the proposal which 
he was determined to resist, was finally to be debated, he chanced to fall and 
break his leg. In consequence of his absence, when the house divided, the 
numbers on both sides were found to be equal. Hutchinson, Avho was the 
speaker, thereupon surrendered his opinion to Avhat seemed to him the general 
desire of the province, and gaA'e his casting vote in favor of the expedition." 



MILITARY. 373 

"Jacob Qiiincy of Braintree, Surgeon's Mate, one of the staff 
officers in Col. Joseph Dwiglit's regiment in the late Crown 
Point expedition, from Feb. 18th, 1756, to the 8th of November 
following." 

The following named persons enlisted under Samuel Thaxter, 
major and captain for the Crown Point expedition, who were 
in service from Feb. IGth to Nov. 10th, 1756 : " Benjamin 
Nash, Benjamin Nash, Jr., Caleb Dunham, Jr., Mathias Chees- 
man, Silas Ludden, Alexander French, Caleb Thayer, Adam 
Howard, William Sergant, Joseph Blanchard, (deserted)." 

Captain Samuel Clark, of Braintree, organized a company in 
1756, to go to Crown Point. The men that comprised his com- 
pany were from Taunton, Abington, Bridgewater, Scituate, Bos- 
ton and several other towns. Only one name can be found on 
the roll from Braintree, which was Philip Smith. Capt. Clark's 
expenses for the organization of the company were as follows : — 
" Fifteen days subsistence in making up the muster roll, one 
pound, two shillings and six pence, and two days travelling from 
Braintree to Boston, eight shillings." 

The following named persons from Braintree are found on the 
roll of Capt. Nathaniel Blake, of Milton, Aug. 9th, 1756: "Ben- 
ony Spear, (Husband^) ; Moses Marsh, (Husband) ; Timothy 
French, (Tanner) ; Jesse Wild, (Heelmaker) ; Jonathan Fes- 
senden, Lieutenant, aged 33, from Capt. Brackett's company; 
Daniel Ames, aged 14, enlisted; Seth Dogett, (Cordwainer), 
impressed ; John Dogett, impressed, (Wheelwright) ; Jonathan 
Bishop, (Cordwainer), volunteer; Jacob French, (Labourer), 
(Hired); Timothy French, (Currier), volunteer; Jacob Gold- 
waite, from Capt. Allen's company, aged 17, (Roaper), volun- 
teer ; David Gay, (Labourer), aged 17, impressed ; Samuel 
George, aged 30, (Labourer), volunteer ; Peter Hubbard, aged 
46, (Laboui'er), impressed; Zebulon Holmes, aged 20, volunteer; 
Wm. Hevins, aged 20, (Cordwainer), volunteer ; Samuel Haws, 
aged 18, (Labourer), volunteer; William Hubbard, aged 16, 
(Labourer), volunteer." For Fort William Henry expedition. 

"Elisha Hayden enlisted in Colonel Lincoln's regiment. Sim- 

1. Probably meaning husbandman. 



374 MILITARY. 

eon Pain, of Braintree, enlisted in Captain Burk's company, of 
Fall Town, now Bernardstown, and was at the capitulation of 
Fort William Henry." 

Campaign of 1757. Capt. Peter Thayer's company marched 
in August, 1757, at the alarm for the relief of Fort William 
Henry. They marched as far as Roxbury and then returned. 
The following is the roll, viz: "Peter Thayer, Captain; John 
White, Lieutenant ; Joseph Hayward, Ensign ; Moses Brackett, 
Seth Turner, Samuel Hunt, Sergeants ; Samuel Marsh, Richard 
Faxon, John Tower, Corporals ; Charles Baxter, Samuel Steph- 
ens, William Adams, Peter Underwood, Joseph Lambart, David 
Pain, Joseph Cleverly, sou to Benjamin Cleverly, Elijah Neal, 
Richard Thayer, Jr., Silas Love well, Jesse Wild, Elijah Thayer, 
Nathaniel Capen, Samuel Curtis, .Jr., Malachi Newcomb, Sam- 
uel French, Jr., Samuel Bedlow, of Weymouth, John Hunt, Jr., 
Daniel Hunt, Jr., Daniel Pratt, Joseph Lovewell, Samuel Nash, 
Adam French, John Hollis, John Bagley, Ephriam Hunt, Jr., 
Joseph Tower, Jr., Nathaniel Pain, Joshua French, Nathaniel 
Pratt, Nehemiah French, Lemuel Baxter, David Bates, Jr., 
Stephen Pratt, John Shaw, Isaac Shaw, Isaac Porter, Elijah 
Hayden, James White, Ephriam Thayer, Jose^^h Nightingale." 
— Mass. Archives. 

Campaign of 1758. Captain Ward's company, of Hingham, 
Avas organized to take part in the reduction of Canada. The 
following named j^ersons enlisted in this company from Brain- 
tree : " Seth Turnei-, Lieutenant ; Mathias Cheesman, Caleb Al- 
drich, Corporals ; Jacob Pain, Drummer ; Jonathan Clark, Seth 
French, Elijah French, Jonathan Green, William Hayden, Clem- 
ent Playden, Jonathan Willis, Noah Howard, Edward Jones, 
Silas Lovell, Joseph Lovell, Joseph Niles, John Niles, Benjamin 
Nash, William Niles, Amos Stetson, John Spear, David Solon, 
Stephen Salsbury, Richard Thayer, Jesse Thayer, Elijah Thayer, 
John Tower, Joseph Tower, Edmund Littlefield." 

The following named persons of Braintree enlisted in the war- 
ship King George, under the command of Capt. Benjamin Hal- 
lowell, Jan. 10th, 1758, this ship being stationed on the coast for 
its protection : Jonathan Crosby, (mate) ; Jonathan Crosby, (2d 
mate); Benjamin Gleason, (armorer); Winter Besson, Gregory 



^ 



MILITARY. 375 

Bass, Richard Brackett, Thomas Cleverly, Nathaniel Gallop, 
Ephriani Graves, Moses Pcnniman, Joseph Sanders, William ^ 
Spear." 

Jotham Gay's company went to Halifax in 1759, and was in 
service from March 31st to November 30th of this year. The 
following named Braintree men enlisted iu this company : " Na- 
ham Belcher, Sergeant ; John Noyes, Corporal ; Clement Crane, 
"Winter Besson, Benjamin Baxter, Thomas Belcher, John Boyles, 
Nehemiah Blauchard, Joseph Blake, Nathaniel Capen, Thomas 
Fenton, Adam French, David French, Jonathan Green, Jona- 
than Hollis, David Horton, Isaac Hayden, Benjamin Hunt, Wil- 
liam Hobart, Clement Hayden, Daniel Hayden, Jonathan Niles, 
John Niles, Stephen Pain, Isaac Smith, Paletiah Stephens, Zac- 
cheus Thayer, Simeon Thayer, Noah Thayer, Abel Thayer, John 
Tower." As the time of service of the companies was short, 
many of the men reinlisted in other companies on their return, 
which causes the repetition of the names of a number of those 
who went again into the army. 

The following served under the command of Captain Nathan- 
iel Blake: "Jonathan Fessenden, Lieutenant; Moses Marsh, 
Corporal; Daniel Ames, Drummer, (pay to Dr. Miller, as his 
servant) ; Jacob French, Jonathan J^ishop, Jacob Goldwaite, 
Peter Hubbard, Timothy French, James Puffer." 

Capt. Samuel Thaxter's company. The following named per- 
sons from Braintree were members of this company for the 
Crown Point expedition in 175G : " William Whitmarsh, Lieu- 
tenant ; Nathaniel Bagly, Ensign ; Thos. Gill, Sergeant ; Ben- 
jamin Baxter, Sergeant ; John Pratt, Jr., Sergeant ; Thomas 
Hearsey, Clerk; John King, Hosea Dunbar, Thomas Hollis, L. 
Lincoln, Corporal ; Edmund Crane, Drummer ; Samuel Joy, 
Nehemiah Blanchard." 

The following named Braintree people were in Capt. Josej)!! 
Hodges' company, made up mostly from Taunton and Norton : 
"Mathias Cheesman, 26; Benjamin Nash, 24." Crown Point 
expedition, 1756. 

In Bytield Lyde's, Esq., company. Ezra Niles, 22 ; Elisha 
Hayden, 21 ; Clement Hayden, 19." Vol. IV, p. 430. 

In Cajjt. Wm. Arbuthnott's company, 1758, not in the capitu- 



376 MILITARY. 

lation, "Jacob French, Setli French, Samuel Lee, Ephriam Pray, 
Joshua Russell, Nemiah Blanchard." 

In Capt. Wra. Arbuthnott's company, of Marlborough, there 
were at the capitulation of Fort William Henry, " William Cor- 
nell, William Hubbard, Jonathan Blanchard." 

In Capt. Samuel Robbin's company, "Joseph Nichols (killed 
or taken), Silas Warner, Zephaniah Batchler." 

In Capt. Jeremiah Richard's company, of Roxbury, 1759, 
"David Hayden, Wilson Marsh, Joseph Nightingale, Ephriam 
Pray," for the reduction of Canada. 

In Capt. Asa Foster's company, for the reduction of Canada, 
1759, "Jonathan Walker, Joseph Walker." 

In Capt. Simeon Cary's company, of Bridgewater, 1759, "Wil- 
liam Nightingale, Joseph Niles, Gideon Thayer, from 14:th of 
May to Jan. 2d, following." 

In Capt. Benjamin Beale's company, 1759, " Benjamin Diah, 
Jonathan Diah, Christopher Dyer, Eliphalet Hinckley, from May 
12th, 1759, to Feb. 23d, 1760:" Crown Point. 

In Capt. Jabez Snow's company, "Thomas Chevers, Josiah 
Sanders, Joseph Ruggles Pain, from July 2d to Dec. 15th, 
1760." 

In Capt. Josiah Dunbar's company, of Bridgewater, " John 
Downing (deserter), Silas Clark, Enoch Hayden, from Feb. 14th 
to Dec. 28th, 1760." 
\ In Capt. Thomas Penniman's company, of Stoughton, "Barash 
Jordan, Sergeant ; Jonathan Clark, Drummer ; William Hub- 
bard, Enoch Hayden, Joseph Man, Hezekiah Ludden, Daniel 
Hayden, Benjamin^ Dyer, Joseph' Nyles, Samuel Jordan, Isaac 
Allen, Thos. Hollis, Lemuel Veasey, Silas Nyles, Elijah Thayer, 
Isaac Dunham, Joshua Thayer, Samuel Jones, Richard Hayden. 
Feb. 7th, 1761." Vol. XCVIII, p. 292. 

In Capt. Stephen Whipple's company, of Ipswich, " Christo- 
pher Thayer. 1761." Vol. XCVIII, p. 381. 

In Capt. Timothy Hament's company, "Abijah Neil, Peter 
Newcomb, Ebenezer Niles, John Perry, Benj. Stetson, Christo- 
pher Thayer, Lemuel Thayer, Abel Thayer. Mar. 19th, 1762." 
Vol. XCVIII, p. 418. 

In Capt. Samuel Dunbar's company, 1763, "Moses Littlefield, 



MILITARY. 377 

Levi Ludden, John Niles, Jonntlian Niles, James Niles, Ebene- 
zer Xiles, Jacob Nash, Daniel Pratt, Benjamin Stutson, Tliomas 
Sever, John Stoddard, John Thayer, William Tliayer, I'aul 
Thayer." 



REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 



We now come to the Revolutionary Period. The home gov- 
ernment had completed a peace at Paris, in 1763, which created 
great rejoicing in the Provinces, as they looked forward to a 
long period of prosperity. Young King George the Third had 
just ascended the throne, and the Provinces placed great confi- 
dence in his expected just administration; but they were soon 
doomed to disappointment. The king was under the influence 
of a corrupt ministry, led and controlled by Burt, a designing 
demagogue and an unprincipled Scotchman, who soon showed 
their hatred to the Provinces by having onerous and oppres- 
sive laws enacted, such as the Writs of Assistance and the 
Stamp Act. Mr. Pitt, afterwards Earl Chatham, an able States- 
man and a brilliant orator, who was opposed to the taxation 
of the Provinces, was succeeded by Burt, the king's favorite. 
But a revenue they must have, and the Provinces must pay 
it. So Pariiaraent, in the year 1765, passed an act for this 
purpose, called the Stamp Act, which was instrumental in 
producing that spirit of opposition to the parent government 
that, ten years after, burst forth into open hostilities. This 
bill was brought into Pariiament by Mr. Grenvill, and ad- 
vocated by Mr. Townsend. Colonel Barre opposed it in his 
Avell-known eloquent and powerful speecli, which availed noth- 
ing, as the bill passed the House of Commons by a vote of two 
hundred and lifty in favor and fifty against it. So strong was 
the sentiment in the House of Lords in support of the bill that 
there was not a word spoken against it. It took its final passage 
on the 22d of March, 1765. Dr. Franklin wrote to Mr. Charles 
Thompson (afterwards secretary of Congress), on the night after 
its ]>assage :— " The candle of liberty is set ; you must set up the 
candle of industry and economy." He said to Mr. Ingersoll, 
49 



378 MILITARY. 

who asked his advice about accepting the agency to distribute 
stamps : — " Go home and tell your countrymen to get children 
as fast as they can." Intimating by this assertion that war was 
inevitable, and that suitable material was wanted in the Colonies 
to establish an army for active warfare. 

The passage of this impost tax on the Colonies was received 
in Massachusetts with indignation and sorrow, thinking as they 
did, that this action of the jjarent government in imposing such 
excessive taxes upon them, would result in a dreaded, uncalled- 
for and internecine war. 

The newspapers ardently regretted the Provinces' loss of lib- 
erty, and urged the people to organize into associations for their 
mutual protection against the tyranny of the home government. 
Upon this call of the press, the inhabitants in many of the towns 
came together and formed patriotic societies, which were called 
" Sons of Liberty." These associations in a number of towns 
set out liberty trees,^ under which these sons of freedom used 
to assemble and proclaim those earnest, patriotic sentiments for 
liberty and an active aggression against the crown, that set the 
Colonies in a blaze, and ultimately consummated in the war of 
the American Ivevolution. 

The sentiment of the inhabitants of Braintree at this time, 
cannot be better illustrated than by giving the following extract 
from Mr. John Adams' interesting Diary, Vol. I, p. 185, in 
which he gives an account of a town meeting of that year, stat- 
ing that it was " the first popular struggle of the Revolution in 
the town of Braintree."^ 

1. 17(36, " May 4tb, Sunday. Eeturuing from meetiug this morning; I saw 
for the first time a likely young button- wood tree, lately planted on the triangle 
made by the three roads, by the house of Mr. James Brackett. The tree is well 
set, well guarded, and has on it an iuscriptiou, ' The tree of Liberty, and 
cursed is he who cuts this tree ! ' Q. What will be the consequences of this 
thought ? I never heard a hint of it till I saw it, but I hear that some persons 
grumble, and threaten to girdle it." — Adams' Diary, Vol. II, p. VJi. 

Tradition says that this tree died a natural death in eight years. It was 
located at the junction of Hancock, Elm and School streets, where the reservoir 
now is, and was then called Brackett's corner, now called Williams' corner. 

2. " Mar. 1st, Saturday. Spent a part of last evening with Mr. Jo. Cleverly. 
He is a tiptoe for town meeting ; he has many schemes and improvements in 
his head, — namely, for separating the offices of constable and collector ; collect- 



SriLITARY. 379 

The repeal of the Stamp Act, in 17C6, was received in Boston 
on the IGth of May, and general rejoicing was had in most of 
the towns of the Colony, by the firing of guns, ringing of bells 
and beating of drums. But in Braintree the Tory element was 

iug taxes has laid the foundation for the ruin of many families. He is for five 
selectmen, and Avill vote for the old ones, ISIr. Quincy and INfajor Miller. He 
hears they arc for turning out all the old selectmen, and choosing a new sot ; 
they for having hut three, &c. 

" The only way is to oppose schemes to schemes, and so break in upon them. 
Cleverly will become a great tovm meeting man, and a great speaker in town 
meeting. Q. What effect will this have on the town affairs ? Brother tells 
me that William Veasey, Jr., tells him he has but one objection against Jona- 
than Bass, and that is, Bass is too forward. When a man is forward, we may 
conclude he has some selfish view, some self ends. Brother asked him if he 
and his party would carry that argument through. It holds stronger against 
Captain Thayer and Major Miller than it ever did against anybody in this town, 
excepting Colonel Gooch and Captain Mills. But I desire the proof of Bass's 
forwardness. Has he been more so than Major Miller? Come, come, Mr. Vea- 
sey, says Master Jo. Cleverly, don't you say too much; I an't of that mind. 
Ego. Bass is an active, capable man, but no seeker by mean begging or buy- 
ing of votes. 

"3d, ISIonday. My brother Peter, ISIr. Etter and Mr. Field, having a number 
of votes prepared for Mr. Quincy and me, set themselves to scatter them in 
town meeting. The town had been very silent and still, my name had never 
been mentioned, nor had our friends ever talked of any new Selectmen at all, 
excepting in the South Precinct; but as soon as they found there was an at- 
tempt to be made, they fell in and assisted ; and, although there were six differ- 
ent hats with votes for as many different persons, besides a considerable number 
of scattering votes, I had the major vote of the assembly the first time. Mr. 
Quincy had more than one hundred and sixty votes. I had but one vote more 
than half. Some of the church people,— Mr. Jo. Cleverly, his brother Ben and 
son, &c., and Mr. Ben. Yesey, of the middle precinct, Mr. James Faxon, &c., 
—I found were grieved and chagrined for the loss of their dear jNIajor Miller. 
Etter and my brother took a skilful method ; they let a number of young fellows 
into the design, John Iluggles, Peter Newcomb, &c., who were very well 
pleased with the employment, and put about a great many votes. Many per- 
sons, I hear acted slyly and deceitfully ; this is always the case. I own it gave 
me much plea.sure to find I had so many friends, and that my conduct in town 
has been not disapproved. The choice was (luite unexpected to me. I thought 
the project was so new and sudden that the people had not digested it, and 
would generally suppose the town would not like it, and so would not vote for 
it. But my brother's answer was, that it had been talked of last year and some 
years before, and that the thought was familiar to the people in general, and 
was more agreeable than anything of the kind that could be pro])Osed to many, 
and for these reasons his hopes were strong. But the triumph of the party was 
very considerable, though not complete; for Thayer and Miller, and the late 



880 MILITARY. 

SO Strong and influential that no public demonstration was held. 
And Mr. Adams i-elates, "A duller day than last Monday, when 
the Province was in a rapture for the repeal of the Stamp Act, 
I do not remember to have passed. And the town of Braintree 
insensible to the common joy." 

In 1765, the noted Braintree instructions to their Representa- 
tive were drawn up by Mr. John Adams, and presented to the 

lessees of the north commons, and many of the church people, and many otliers 
had determined to get out Deacon Penniman; but, instead of that, their favor- 
ite was dropped, and I, more obnoxious to that party than even Deacon Penni- • 
man or any other man, was chosen in his room, and Deacon Penniman was 
saved with more than one hundred and thirty votes — a more reputable election 
than even Thayer himself had. 

"Mr. Jo. Bass was extremely sorry for the loss of Major Miller; he would 
never come to another meeting. Mr. Jo. Cleverly could not account for many 
things done at town meetings. His motion for choosing collectors was slighted ; 
his motion for lessening his fine was thrown out; and he made no sort of figure 
as a speaker; so that I believe Mr. Cleverly will make no hand. Elisha Niles 
says, ' set a knave to catch a knave.' A few days before a former March meet- 
ing, he told Thayer that he had a mind to get in Deacon Penniman. Thayer 
asked him who he would have with him. He answered, Capt. Allen. Thayer 
made him no answer, but when the meeting came, was chosen himself. 

"Mr. Thomas Faxon, of this end of the town, told my wife he never saw 
anybody chosen so neatly in his life, — not a word, not a whisper beforehand. 
Peter Newcomb gave him a vote; he had one before for Miller, and had heard 
nothing of me; but he thought I should have one. So he dropped that for Mil- 
ler. Jo. Nightingale asked my wife, ' Mr. Adams will have too much business, 
will he not; the courts to attend, selectman and representative at May, &c?' 
Mr. John Baxter, the old gentleman, told me he was very well pleased with the 
choice at the north end, &c. Old Mr. John Ruggles voted for me; but says 
that Thayer will (be chosen) at May. If I would set up, he would vote for me, 
and I should go, but Mr. (^uincy will not. Lieut. Holbrook, I hear, was much 
in my favor, &c. Thus the town is pretty generally disputing about me, I find. 

" But this choice will not disconcert Thayer, at May, though it Avill weaken 
him. But, as I said before, the triumph was not complete; Cornet Bass had 
the most votes the first time, and would have come in the second, but the north 
end people, his friends, after putting in their votes the first time, withdrew for 
refreshment, by which accident he lost it, to their great regret. 

" Mark the fruits of this election to me. Will the church people be angry, 
and grow hot and furious, or will they be cooler and calmer for it? Will 
Thayer's other precinct friends resent it and become more violent, or will they 
be less so? In short, I cannot answer these questions; many of them will be 
disheartened, I know; some will be glad. 

"10th, Monday. Last week went to Boston and to Weymouth, &c. I hear 
that Mr. Benjamiu Cleverly has already bespoke Mr. John lUiggles, Jr., against 



/ 



MILITARY. 381 

inhabitants of tlic town at a legally assembled meeting, on the 
24th of September, and unanimously voted, " that instructions 
should be given their Representative for his conduct in General 
Assembly on this great occasion." The active part that Mr. 
Adams took in these instructions can be better understood by 
giving it in his own language : — 

" I drew up a petition to the Selectmen of Braintrce, and pro- 
cured it to be signed by a number of the resjjectable inhabitants 
to call a meeting of the town, to instruct their Representative 
in relation to the stamps. The public attention of the whole 
continent was alarmed, and my principles and political connec- 
tions were well known. I prepared a draught of instructions at 
home, and carried them with me. The cause of the meeting 
was explained at some length, and the state and dangers of the 
country pointed out ; a committee was appointed to ])repare in- 
structions, of which I was nominated as one. We retired to 
Mr. Niles' house, my draught was j^roduced and unanimously 
adopted without amendments, reported to the town and ac- 
cepted without a dissenting voice. These Avere j^ublished by 
Draper's paper, as that prhiter first applied to me for a cojiy. 
They were decided and sj^irited enough. They rang through 
the State, and were adopted in so many words, as I was in- 
formed by the Representatives of that year, by forty towns, as 
instructions to their Representatives. They were honored suffi- 
ciently, by the friends of the government, with the epithets of 
inflammatory."^ • 

May meeting,— promised him as much as he could eat and drink of the best sort 
if he will vote for Captain Thayer; told him he would not have acted as he did, 
at March, if it had not heen for Thomas Newconib, and that he would vote for 
Thayer, at May, if it was not for Thomas Newcomb. By this, tlie other side 
are alarmed; the craft, they think, is in danger; but I believe their fears are 
groundless, though I wish there was good reason for them. 

"Drankteaat Mr. Etter's. He says all the blame is laid to liim, and tliat a 
certain man takes it very ill of him. By the way, I heard to-day that Major 
Miller and James Brackett, Jr., were heard, since March meeting, raving 
against Dea. Palmer, and said he was a knave, &c. Q. About this quarrel ?" 

1. "To Menezer Thayer, E.oq. :— 

"Sir: In all the calamities which have ever bofallen (his county, wc liavo 
never felt so great a concern, or such alarming apprehensions, as on this occa- 
sion. Such is our loyality to the King, our voiieration for both houses of Farli- 



382 MILITARY. 

The French and Indian War had caused such a severe drain 
upon the resources and limited means of the Province, that the 
town was obliged to make the following law in regard to econo- 
my, industry and the protection of home manufacture, viz, : — 

" Whereas, the well-being and happiness of all civil commu- 
nities depend on industry, economy and good morals. And this 
town takes into serious consideration the great decay of the trade 
of the Province, the scarcity of money, the heavy debt con- 
tracted in the late war, which still remains on the people, and 
the great difficulties to which they are by these means reduced. 



ament, and our affection for all our fellow-subjects in Britain, that measures 
which discover any nnkindness in that country towards us are the more sensi- 
bly and intimately felt. And we can no longer forbear complaining, that many 
of the measures of the late ministry, and some of the late acts of Parliament, 
have a tendency, in our apprehension, to divest us of our most essential rights 
and liberties. We shall confine ourselves, however, chiefly to the acts of Par- 
liament, commonly called the Stamp Act, by which a very burthensome, and 
in our opinion, unconstitutional tax, is to be laid upon us all; and we subjected 
to numerous and enormous penalties, to be prosecuted, sued for and recovered, 
at the option of an informer, in a Court of Admiralty, without a jury. 

" We have called this a burthensome tax, because the duties are so numerous 
and so high, and the embarrassments to business in this infant, sparsely-settled 
country so great, that it would be totally impossible for the people to subsist 
vmder it, if we had no controversy at all about the right and authority of im- 
posing it. Considering the present scarcity of money, we have reason to think, 
the execution of that act for a short space of time would drain the country of 
its cash, strip multitudes of all their property and reduce them to absolute beg- 
gary. And what the consequence would be to the peace of the Province, from 
so sudden a shock and such a convulsive change in the? whole course of our 
business and subsistence, we tremble to consider. We further apprehend this 
tax to be unconstitutional. We have always understood it to be a grand and 
fundamental principle of the Constitution, that no freeman should be subject to 
any tax to which he has not given his own consent, in person or by proxy. And 
the maxims of the law, as we have constantly received them, are to the same 
effect, that no freeman can be separated from his property but by his own act 
or fault. We take it clearly, therefore, to be inconsistent with the spirit of the 
common law, and of the essential fundamental principles of the British Consti- 
tution, that we should be subject to any tax imposed by the British Parliament; 
because we are not represented in that assembly in any sense, unless it be by a 
fiction of law, as insensible in theory as it would be injurious in practice, if such 
a taxation should be grounded on it. 

" But the most grievous innovation of all, is the alarming extension of the 
power of Courts of Admiralty. In these Courts, one judge presides alone! No 
juries have any concern there! The law and the fact are both to be decided by 



MILITARY. OQo 

Therefore voted, that the town will use their utmost endeavors 
and enforce tlieir endeavors by example in suppressing extrava- 
gance, Idleness and vice, and promote industry, economy and 
good morals, in the town. And in order to prevent the unnec- 
essary exportation of money, of which this Province lias of late 
been so much drained. It is further voted that the town will 
by all prudent means, discontinue the use of foreio-n superflui- 
ties, and encourage the manufactures of the Province, and par- 
ticularly those of this town." 

May 25th, 1770. Protest of the town against a meeting at 
Cambridge:-" Whereas, the present precept directing us to 
choose one or more representatives, requiring our sending such 

tl^ same single judge, whose commission is only during pleasure, and with 
iT r;* .T :%Z '' *■" "^^^ '--hievous of an customs has become estab- 
lished, tl.at of taking commissions on all condemnations; so that he is under a 
pecumary temptation ahvays against the subject. Now, if the wisdom of the 
mother country has thought the independency of judges so essential to an impar- 
tial adm„nstrat:on of justice, as to render them independent of every pier 
on earth-mdependeatof the King, the Lords, the Commons, the people nly 
ndependent m hope and expectation of the heir-apparent, by contiLing the^; 

tZT" r: T'" '' ^'^^^'^^"'' ''''^' ^■^•■^^'- -'^ impartiality are we 
thee thousand miles distant from the fountain, to expect from such a Judge o 

Admiralty. We have all along thought the acts of trade in this resp:ct a 

grievance, but the Stamp Act has opened a vast number of sources of new 

crnnes, which may be committed by any man, and cannot but be committed by 

multitudes, and prodigious penalties are annexed, and all these are to be tried 

or wi.t 1 V '""\ ' '""'*■ ^''* "'^^ ^^ ^"°*'°^' ■''''' this, but a weak 
or .icked manfor a judge, to render us the most sordid and forlorn of slaves"' 
We mean the slaves of a slave of the servants of a Minister of State. We cln: 
not help asserting, therefore, that this part of the act will make a great chan-^e in 

Itself, for bi that Charter, 'no amerciament shall be assessed, but by the oath 
of honest and lawful men of the vicinage ' ; and, ' no freeman shall be taken 
-.prisoned, or dessei.ed of his freehold or liberties of free customs nor p ed 

H.:' "IT t:r"^\'"-„'r '''-''' ^■"'^'"^" ^^ '-^^ --• - ^^ *^« '--^ *:' 

b tween . " "^''^ '"''^ distinctions, and create such a ditierence 

between the subjects in Great Britain a.id those in America, as we could not 
have expected from the guardians of liberty in ' both ■ 

J As these, sir, are our sentiments of this act, we, the freeholders and other 
nhabitants legally assembled for this purpose, must enjoin it upon ou to 
comply with no measures or proposals for countenancing the same or assist'in! 
>n the execution of it, but by all lawful means, con.sistent with oi.r X^Tc: 
to he Ivxng and relation to Great Britain, to oppose the execution of it. till we 
can hear the success of the cries and petitions of America for relief. 



884 MILITARY. 

person or persons to Cambridge ; but the law positively directs 
that the General Court shall meet at the Town House in Boston. 
We do protest against said requirements for the General Court 
to meet at Cambridge as illegal, and an infringement of our 
rights and privileges, and that our compliance with the precepts 
aforesaid is through necessity, and shall not hereafter be drawn 
into precedents. Dea. Joseph Palmer, Dea. James Penniman, / 
Capt. Benjamin Beal, Dea. Jonathan Webb, Dea. Jonathan 
Wild, a committee on Pamphlet." 
^ Committee's Report, March 1st, 1773 : — 

" 1st. That we apprehend the state of the right of tlie Colo- 
nists and of this Province in particular, together of the infringe- 
ments and violations of tlie right as stated in the pamphlet com- 
mitted to us, are in general fairly represented ; and that the 
town of Boston be hereby thanked for this instance of their ex- 
traordinary care of the public welfare. 

"2d. That as our Fathers left their native country and 
friends in order that they and their jDosterity might enjoy that 
civil and religious liberty here which they could not enjoy there, 

" We further recommend the most clear and explicit assertion and vindica- 
tion of our rights and liberties to be entered on the public records, that the 
world may know, iu the present and all future generations, that we have a clear 
knowledge and a just sense of them, and, with submission to Divine Provi- 
dence, that we never can be slaves. 

"Korean we think it advisable to agree to any steps for the protection of 
stamped papers or stamp officers. Good and wholesome laws we have already 
for the preservation of the peace; aud we apprehend there is no further danger 
of tumult and disorder, to which we have a well-grounded aversion; and that 
any extraordinary and expensive exertions would tend to exasperate the people 
aud endanger the public tranquillity, rather than the contrary. Indeed, we can- 
not too often inculcate upon you our desires, that all extraordinary grants and 
expensive measures may, upon all occasions, as much as possible, be avoided. 

"The public money of this country is the toil and labor of the people, who 
are under many uncommon difficulties and distresses at this- time, so that all 
reasonable frugality ought to be observed. Aud we would recommend particu- 
larly, the strictest care aud the utmost firmness to prevent all unconstitutional 
draughts upon the public treasury. ^k^^x.^-^. Niles, 

John Adams, 
Norton Quincv, 
James Penniman, v' 
John Hayward." 



MILITARY. 385 

we, their descendants, are determined, by the grace of God, tliat 
our conscienoes shall not accuse us with having acted unworthy 
such pious and venerable heroes, and that we will by all lawful 
ways and means, preserve at all events, all our civil and religious 
rights and privileges. 

■ " 4th. Tliat by the divine constitution of things, there is such 
a connection between civil and religions liberty, that in what- 
ever nation or government the one is crushed, the other seldom 
if ever, survives long after; of this, history furnishes al)undant 
evidence. 

"5th. That all civil officers are, or ought to be, servants to 
the peo2»le, and dependant upon them for their official su])port, 
and every instance to the contrary, from the governor down- 
wards, tends to crush and destroy civil liberty. 

" 6th. That we bear true loyalty to our lawful King, George 
the III, and unfeigned affection to our brethren in Great Brit- 
tain and Ireland, and to all our sister Colonies, and so long as 
our mother country protects us in our Charter rights and privi- 
leges, so long will we, by Divine assistance, exert our iitmost to 
promote the welfare of the whole British cmi)ire, Avhich we earn- 
estly pray may flourish uninterruptedly in the j^aths of right- 
eousness till time shall be no more. 

" 7th. That Mr. Thayer, our representative, be hereby direct- 
ed to use his utmost endeavors that a day of Fasting and Prayer 
be appointed throughout the Province, for humbling ourselves 
before God in this day of darkness, and imploring Divine direc- 
tion and assistance. 

"8th. That an attested copy of the town's proceedings in 

this matter be transmitted as soon as may be, by the town clerk, 

to the Boston committee. t -o 

Joseph Pal:mek, 

Benjamix Beal, 

Jonathan Wild." 

March 11th, 177-4. Then the meeting proceeded to the con- 
sideration of public affairs. 

" We have reason to be alarmed when all that is dear to us is 
at stake, and there can be nothing more influencing" than the 
danger of losing our civil ami religious Privileges, Benefits in 

50 



386 MILITARY. 

themselves truly valuable and obtained at such expense of treas- 
ure and toil, attended with such Hazards and Hardships as not 
paralleled in History. The recovery of such as are abridged and 
preserving those that remain, will undoubtedly be judged objects 
worthy the highest attention. 

" The declarative rights of the British Parliament to tax the 
American Colonies without their consent, and to make laws 
binding on them in all cases whatsoever, is evidently repugnant 
to the views our Predecessors had of their Privilege, and should 
it take j^lace, must leave us and our Posterity nothing to hope 
but everything to Fear, that a prejudiced or corrupted Minis- 
try should see good at any time to im230se on us ; and as the 
doctrine of Passive obedience and non-resistance is not less mis- 
chievous in Politicks than religion, and as we have an unques- 
tionable right to use every lawful means to ward off impending 
danger, we resolve : — 

"1st. That the great end and design for which men first 
formed themselves into Governmental society and submitted to 
Government, was the greater good of the whole, and not to 
enrich or aggrandize one or a few. 

" 2d. That it is essential to this great end, the greater good 
of the whole, that all Laws be by the consent of the People, 
either Personally or by their Representatives, Since without this 
right, they must ever be exposed to oppression from their rulers. 

"3cl. That it necessarily follows that no British Law can justly 
be binding upon us who neither have, or (from our local situation) 
possibly can have, either personally or by Representatives, any 
equal share in enacting them. And we therefore resolve, in the 
spirit of the law of the late Colony of New Plymouth, above a 
hundred years ago ' That no act, imposition laAV or ordinance, be 
made or imposed upon us at present or to come, but such as (has 
or) shall be enacted by the consent of the body of Freemen or 
Associates, or their Representatives legally assembled, which is 
according to the free liberties of the free born people of Eng- 
land,' and of the same i>urport have been the resolves of our 
own Parliament or General Assembly, to the present day. 

" 4th. That we have reason thereof to complain, that there 
are now in being sundry acts of the British Legislature, the 



MILITARY. 387 

professed design of which is to raise a revenue in America, and 
by which our jiroperty is by unconstitutional measures extorted 
from us, and applied, not to pay Brittain's debts, but to support 
Revenue Commissioners, etc., in idleness and luxury, to the 
waste of our property and danger of our morals. And in partic- 
ular the late act of the British Parliament, which, through artful 
ministerial contrivance, allows the East India cor. to export 
Teas to America, charged with a duty payable here, is craftily 
calculated to establish a revenue, which, if effected, will proba- 
bly render abortive all future opposition. And we must then be 
liable to all the variety of taxation which Brittain now pays 
upon a Number of articles most necessary for the convenience 
of life, besides a large tax upon our Land. For the preventing 
whereof, Ave resolve as far as in us lies, to put an end to the use 
of all East India teas and piece goods, and to consider every 
person among us who shall hereafter Buy, sell or use said teas or 
piece goods until our grievances are redressed, (if not intention- 
ally), yet practical enemies to our Rights and Liberties. 

" 5th. That the declarative right of the British Parliament, 
that they have a right to make laws, binding to the Colonies in 
all cases Avhatsoever, is very alarming ; the universality of this 
declaration evinces that our Religious rights are in danger as Avell 
as our civil. For, as agreeable to this declaration, they have in 
fact deprived us of some of our civil rights, and imposed taxes 
upon us ; so, in conformity to the same declaration*, by an act of 
uniformity or otherwise, they may imjiose any Religious Shackles 
upon us, and we know of no instance wherein a people have 
been deprived of their civil rights but that they have lost their 
religious rights also, and from the nature of things, they must, 
or fall together. 

" 6th. That at the same time wc so freely resolve and deter- 
mine against submission to foreign taxation, and that we deter- 
mine, by the will of God, to stand fast in the liberty wherewith 
we are made free, and to hazard life itself rather than submit to 
foreign taxation. We also resolve to pay all obedience to our 
Provincial Laws, and that avc will not use our liberty as a cloak 
of licentiousness. 

" 7th. "We greatly lament the want of a truly Patriotic spirit, 



388 MILITARY. 

and that private views and interests are so apparently the gov- 
erning motive of so great a part in this day of Distress and 
Danger, while every individual is interested, or can we have, 
notwithstanding all our resolves and Determinations, any pros- 
pect of a favorable issue unless our private interests give place 
to the general good, and we unitedly engage and use our utmost 
efforts to promote it, and to that end we shall readily join, not 
only with our Brethren in this Province but through this wide- 
extended continent, in every lawful, just and constitutional 
measure for recovering and preserving inviolate, all our civil 
and religious rights and privileges, against all opposition what- 
ever; and by this means, (to use the words of his Majesty's 
Council,) ' we hope to see happiness and tranquillity restored to 
the Colonies, and especially to see betwixt Great Brittain and 
them, a union established on such an equitable Basis as neither 
of them shall ever wish to destroy. We humbly supplicate the 
sovereign arbiter of human affairs for this happy event.' " 

September, 1774. For some time it had been surmised by 
the inhabitants of the Middle and South Precincts, that the 
North (which is now Quiucy), symjDathized with the parent gov- 
ernment, and was by them considered the Tory end of the town, 
Avhich fact will be illustrated by the following attempt of the 
Provincial government to secure the powder belonging to the 
Province : — In Sept., 1774, William Battle, Esq., who had been 
frequently cKosen counsellor under the charter, suggested to 
Governor Gage that it might be a stroke of j^olicy to secure the 
Provincial ammunition. Upon this suggestion the governor 
acted, and ordered two companies of soldiers to Charlestown to 
secure the jiowder stored in the arsenal; which they did. This 
act of the British soldiers so enraged the people, that next morn- 
ing several thousand of them, mostly in arms, assembled at 
Cambridge and proceeded to Lieutenant-Governor "Oliver's 
house, and they also visited the houses of some of the recently 
elected Counsellors, who, on their demand, resigned, declaring 
that they would not act under such unjust and arbitrary stat- 
ute." The report of this transaction reached Braintree on Fri- 
day. On Sunday, an English soldier was seen lurking about tlie 
north commons where the powder-house was located. (The 



:Nrn.TTARY. 389 

powder-house f 01' Braintree was located in the. North Precinct, 
which is now Quincy, near Scotch pond.) This fact was imme- 
diately, with lightning speed, conveyed to the Middle and South 
Precincts, who, on receiving the news, sent a force of about 
two hundred men to secure the ammunition stored in the jiow- 
der-house. Mrs, John Adams gives the following graphic ac- 
count of this episode, who at that time resided on Franklin 
street, in the old Adams mansion : — 

"Intelligence of it was communiated to the other parishes, 
and about eight o'clock, Sunday evening, there passed by here 
about two hundred men, preceded by a horse cart, and marched 
down to the powder-house, from whence they took the powder, 
and carried it into the other parish, and there secreted it. I 
opened the window upon their return. They passed without 
any noise ; not a word among them till they come against this 
house, Avhen some of them, perceiving me, asked me if I wanted 
any powder. I replied, No, since it was in so good hands. The 
reason they gave for taking it was, that we had so many Tories 
here they dared not trust us with it ; they had taken Vinton in 
their train (Vinton was Sherreff under the Provincial Govern- 
ment), and upon their return they stopped between Cleverly's 
and Etter's and called ujjon him to deliver two warrants, (which 
were probably for them, as they were susposed to have been 
royalists). Upon his producing them, they put it to vote 
whether they should burn them, and it passed in tlie affirma- 
tive. They then made a circle and burnt them. They then called 
a vote whether they should huzza, but it being Sunday evening, 
it passed in the negative. They called upon Vinton to swear 
that he would never be instrumental in carrying into execution 
any of these new acts. They were not satisfied with his an- 
swers ; liowever, they let him rest. A few days afterwards, 
upon making some foolish speeches, they assembled to the 
amount of two or three hundred, and swore vengeance upon 
him unless he took a solemn oatli. Accordingly, they chose 
a committee and sent it with him to Major Miller's, to sec that 
he complied; and they waited his return, Avhicli proving satis- 
factory, they then dispersed." 

Oct. 3d, 1774. "Whereas, a report lias been spread in the 



390 MILITARY. 

town of Boston and other places, that a considerable Number of 
Peoj^le in this town had entered into a combination to Distm-be 
and harass the Rev. Mr. Winslow and other members of the 
Church of England, with a letter obliging them to leave the town. 
And no evidence appearing to sujiport the charge, therefore 
Voted, 'That said report is malicious, false and injurious, and 
calculated to defame this Town, and that we Protest against all 
such combinations as being Subversive of good Government We 
being as ready to allow that right of private judgment to others 
which we claim for ourselves.' 

" The relation Mr. Peter Etter made respecting his conduct is 
satisfactory to the town. The resolves of the Committee of 
Correspondence of the several Towns in the County of Suffolk, 
respecting the withholding material from the Soldiers, &c., be 
adopted by this town. Voted, 'that the Committee of Observa- 
tion and Prevention be raised in this town to carefully observe 
and Prevent any person or Persons acting contrary to the true 
intent of the aforesaid Committee of Correspondence.' A Com- 
mittee of Observation of fifteen was then separately chosen for 
that purpose, five from each Precinct, viz : — Mr. Edmund Bil- 
lings, Dea. Daniel Arnold, Mr. James Brackett, Jr., Mr. James 
Clark, Mr. Peter B. Adams, Mr. Thomas Newcomb, Mr. William 
' Penniman, Mr. Moses French, Mr. Edmund Soper, Capt. Nath. 
Wales, Capt. Thomas Penniman, Mr. Moses Spear, Mr. Nath. 
Niles, Mr. Nathaniel Belcher, Jr., and Mr. Jonathan Bass, and 
that the committee serve gratis. 

"Voted, 'that whereas, by the present embarrassment of our 
Civil Libertjy, the People's minds are easily effected with every 
appearance of Danger, and in some cases may be ready to allow 
their resentment to rise to an undue pitch. Therefore all Persons 
within this town that are or may be aggrieved by the conduct 
of others respecting our jjublic affairs, are directed to apply to 
the Committee of Observation, who are desired, if possible, to 
remove the grounds of such uneasiness (if real), and direct all 
inquiries respecting their duty under the Present circumstances 
of things.' 

"The town then proceeded to the consideration of appointing 
one or more Persons to "attend a Provincial Congress at Con- ' 



MILITARY. 391 

cord, the Second Tuesday of this inst., and it was decided to 
send two persons to said Congress. Mr. Eben. Thayer and Jos. 
Pahner were selected for that jjurpose." 

Nov. 14th, 1774. "The Moderator of the meeting was de- 
sired to request such Military Commissioned Officers as are 
present, to resign their respective Commissions, and the follow- 
ing Gentlemen made a Declaration to the town of their free 
resignation of their office, viz: — Col. Ebenezer Thayer, Nathan- 
iel Wales, Joseph Hayward, Benjamin Hayden, Capts. Peter B. 
Adams, Jonathan Thayer, John Vinton, Eben. Thayer, 3d, Lieut. 
Thomas White, John Hall, Jr., Isaac Spear, Ensigns. Also, Capt. 
Benjamin Bass. 

" The Assessors of the North and Middle Precincts within the 
said town, are desired to call a meeting in their respective Pre- 
cincts, to regulate the Militia agreeable to the recommendations 
of the Provincial Congress. The Committee of Observation, 
&c., are desired to inform themselves relating to the conduct of 
such Persons within the town, (if any there be), who do not 
strictly conform to the non-importation and non-consumption 
agreement. And if there be any of the Members of the town 
who continue to Practice in violation of said agreement, by sell- 
ing or consuming Teas or otherwise, and persist therein, that in 
such cases they publish his, her or their Names, that they may 
be known and esteemed as Practical enemies to our rights and 
privileges." 

Nov. 28th, 1774. "John Adams, Esq., to be joined to the 
members of the Provincial Congress as a member from this 
town." 

Jan. 23d, 1775. " It was decided to send but one Delegate 
to the Provincial Congress, the first of February next. Deacon 
Joseph Palmer was chosen. The following are the instructions 
to the said Delegate : — 

" As you have been ai")pointed as a delegate to Represent us 
in the Provincial Congress to be lield at Cambridge the first of 
February next, and as our duty and interest lies in carefully and 
strictly adhering to the recommendation and resolves of the 
Continental Congress, We, your constituents, direct and instruct 
you to attend to the spirit and letter of said resolves, i)articu- 



392 MILITARY. 

larly where tliey recommend to us to submit to a Suspension of 
the Administration of justice when it cannot be procured in a 
legal and peacable manner, under the rules of the Charter and 
the law founded thereon, until the effect of their application for 
a repeal of the Act, by which our Charter rights are infringed, is 
known. Also, their direction resj^ecting General Gage and his 
Majesty's troops, Stationed in Boston, and that we peacably and 
firmly persevere in the Line in which we were then Conducting 
on the Defensive. And that you in no wise strain their sense and 
act as may be construed repugnant to their meaning, which must 
have a tendency to involve us in remediless ruin, which would 
inevitably be our case should we lose their support. James Pen- 
niman, in the Name of the Committee." 

Dea. Palmer, Mr. Peter B. Adams, Mr. Edmund Soper, Capt. 
\ Hayden, Mr. Sawen, Capt. Penniman and Aziriah Faxon, as a 
military committee, made the following statement to the town, 
for the reorganization of the militia : — 

" Whereas, much time is generally spent by the Militia of the 
Town in perfecting themselves in necessary JMilitary exercises, 
many of whom cannot well afford it, and it being wisdom at 
all times, esiDccially at this, to put ourselves in a good state of 
Defence, and being desirous to encourage a Military spirit in 
the most equitable manner, do vote, ' That from and after the 
last day of this month untill the last day of March next, every 
person in the Militia who shall attend said exercises shall be 
paid out of the town treasury for every half day's attendance, 
Provide such persons shall be paid for no more than for one half 
day in a week, and Provided, also, that the Captain and Clerk 
of each and every Militia Company do certify to the Selectmen 
for the time being, that such person has faithfully attended to 
his duty at said exercises, from three to six o'clock in the after- 
noon of such days at which hour the Roll shall be called, and no 
person paid who has not attended and answered to both calls on 
each and every day, and the parents. Masters or Guardians of 
such as are under age shall be paid for such Minors, and Pro- 
vided also, that all such as may not be sufficiently equipt Avith 
arms and ammunition, in the judgment of the field officers, shall 
have his wages laid out for such equiptments, and such as are 



MILITARY. 393 

sufficiently eqiiipt sliall receive tlieir wages in money when the 
treasury is in casli. The oquiptment intended is a good Fire- 
lock, Bayonet and Cartouch box, one pound of powder. Twenty- 
four balls to fit their Gun, twelve flints and a Knapsack. The 
town shall allow the Militia that attend exercises agreeable to 
the above report, one shilling for each and every half day.' " 

The following committee, selected by the town on the 6th of 
March, to prepare a covenant agreeable to the desires of the 
Continental Congress, made a report of a covenant which was 
adopted by the town: — Joseph Palmer, Norton Quincy, John 
Adams, Ebenezer Thayer, Elisha Niles, Esq., Mr. Thomas New- 
comb, Mr. Jonathan Bass, Mr. Isaac Spear and Mr. Eliphalet 
Sawen.^ 

1775. This year the schools were closed and general business 
was af a stand-still. The whole attention of the people was 

1. The following is an abstract of their report: — 

""We the inhabitants of the town of Braintree in the Province of Massa- 
chusetts Baj-, having taken into most serious consideration the subject matter 
of the association entered into by the Continental Congress on October 20th, 
1774, and being determined to do everything in our power to confirm and estab- 
lish that union which at this time so happily subsists among ourselves, not only 
in this town and Colony but also throughout the continent, and which we 
humbly hope may be blessed by heaven as the peaceable means of securing and 
establishing our rights and Liberties in such a manner as to hand them entire 
to Generations yet unborn, have freely and voluntarily entered into the 
following association:— Avowing our allegiance to the King, our affection and 
regard for Brittou in all parts of the world, affected with the deepest dnxiety, 
and the most alarming apprehension, at those grievances and distress with 
which British Americans are oppressed, and having taken imder our most 
serious Deliberations the state of the whole British Continent, so far as our 
abilities and opportunities permitted, find that the present unhappy situation 
of our affairs is occasioned by a ruinous system of Colony administration 
adopted by the British ministry about the year 17Go, evidently calculated for 
enslaving these Colonies, and with tliem the whole British empire. In prosecu- 
tion of which system various acts of Parliament have been passed for raising a 
revenue in America, for depriviug American subjects in many instances of the 
constitutional tryal by jury ; exposing tbeir lives to danger, by creating a new 
and illegal tryal beyond the sea for crimes alleged to have been committed in 
America, and in the prosecution of the same system several late cruel and 
oppressive acts have been passed respecting the Town of Boston and Province 
of Massachusetts Bay, and also an act for extending the Province of Quebec, 
so as to border on the Western frontier of these Colonies and establishing an 
arbitrary government therein and discomagiag the settlement of British subjects 

61 



394 MILITAEY. 

engaged in making prej)arations to pi'eserve their town and 
property from the ravages of the enemy. 

Sunday morning, May 24th, 1775, the alarm guns were fired, 
bells rung and drums beat. The cause of this constei'nation was 
the anchoring of thr^e British sloops of war and one cutter, 
below Great Hill. It was supposed by the inhabitants that they 
designed an attack on Germautown or Weymouth. So great 
was the alarm, that men, women and children came flying into 
Braintreo for safety, and others went to Bridgewater. In a 
short time, two thousand armed men arrived from Weymouth, 
Hingham and other towns within a radius of thirty and forty 
miles. It was then found that this expedition was for the pur- 
pose of plundering hay from Grape Island. In a short time a 
lighter and a sloojj were procured by the Americans from Hing- 
ham, with six port holes. Captain Elihu Adams,^ the younger 
brother of John Adams, with his company, was among the first 
to go on board. They immediately put oft for the island ; the 
enemy, on the approach of this imi)romptu naval force, de- 
camj^ed, after having secured about three tons of hay. The 
Americans set fire to the barn and remaining hay ; eighty tons 
were consumed. After this encounter Captain Turner's com- 
pany was stationed at Germantown and Captain Vinton's at 
Squantum, for the protection of this coast. 

iu that wide and extended country. Thus by the influence of civil ijrinciples 
and ancient prejudices to dispose the inhabitants to act with hostility against 
the free Protestant Colony wlienever a wicked Ministry shall choose to direct. 

"To obtain redress of these grievances which threaten destruction to the lives, 
liberties and property of his Majesty's subjects in North America, "We are of 
opinion that nou-iuiportation, uon-consuniptiou and non-exportation agree- 
ments faithfully adhered to, will prove the most speedy, effectual and peaceable 
measure. Therefore we do for ourselves in particular, as well as being members 
of said town of Braintree firmly agree and associate under the sacred ties of 
virtue, honor and love of our country, as follows: — 

" First, That we will not import from Great Britain or Ireland or from any 
other place, any such goods, ware or merchandise as shall have been imported 
from Great Britain or Ireland, nor will we from this day import any East India 
from any part of the world, uor any molasses, syrup, Pauely coffee, or pimento 
from the British Plantations or Dominions, or wine from Madeira or the West- 
ern Islands or foreign indigo." — Braintree liecords. 

1. Capt. Adams died of dysentery contracted in cam^) while with his company 
at Cambridge. 



MnjTART. 395 

July, 1775. Three hundred men, commanded by Maj.Tuppcr, 
manned the Avhale boats lying at Germantown, went to Long 
Island and brought off seventy sheep, fifteen head of cattle and 
sixteen prisoners, thirteen of whom had been sent to the island 
to mow the grass. They were found asleep in the house and 
barn ; three women were also found with them. Tlie Ameri- 
cans not desiring that this barn and house should afford the 
enemy so comfortable a shelter, concluded the next day,- to fit 
another expedition to the island and destroy the house, barn and 
hay. This enterprise consisted of twenty-five men under Capt. 
Wild of Braintree, and twenty-five men of Capt. Gold's com- 
pany of "Weymouth, with volunteers amounting to one hundred. 
Receiving permission from head-quarters, they went to Moon 
Island and set fii'c to the buildings and hay. The British cut- 
ters immediately surrounded the island and comnienced a hot 
and continued, fire upon the Americans, the bullets flying in all 
directions. Many citizens of this town witnessed this spirited 
jlction with great anxiety, expecting every moment to see their 
friends killed. Our forces came off of Long Island without even 
a man being wounded. One man of the covering forces on 
Moon Island was killed by a cannon ball from the enemy's man- 
of-war ships. 

A few days after this encounter, an expedition of the Brain- 
tree, Weymouth and Ilingham companies went to Nantasket, 
reaped the grain and brought it off. They then took whaleboats 
and started for the Boston Lighthouse and set fire to it. On 
their return the English came down upon them with eight barges, 
one cutter and one schooner, in battle array and opened a terrific 
fire upon them. The Americans arrived safely back, with the 
exception of two, who were slightly wounded in the legs. Our 
forces brought off with them from the lighthouse one field piece, 
a swivel, and the lamps of the lighthouse. 

Soon after this skirmish, the ]3ritish sent thirteen carpenters, 
and thirty marines as a guard to protect them while repairing 
the lighthouse. Tiie Americans, on the evening of the thirtieth 
of July, under JMajor Tu])j)er, with men from Squantunr and 
Dorchester, attacked the Bi-itish at the lighthouse, killed the 
lieutenant, one man, and captured all of the enemy, — fifty-three 



396 MILITAEY. 

in number. Our forces were hotly pursued by the enemy, and 
were obliged to run one of their whaleboats ashore. One of 
their number by the name of Griffin, from Rhode Island State, 
the only person killed in this fight, having been shot through the 
temples, was buried from Germantown with military honors. 
Minister Wibird, of this town, conducted the funeral services. 
The next day General Washington, in general orders, commend- 
ed their gallant and soldier-like conduct. After this year the 
seat of war was removed from this section of the country, and 
its inhabitants relieved from the alarms of an approaching ene- 
my. For an account of these brilliant skirmishes, see Bancroft 
Gordon's Revolution Remembrances, and Mrs. Adams' letters. 

Mr. John Adams, the previous year, was chosen, with other 
gentlemen,^ a delegate to attend the Continental Congress which 
was to be held in Philadelphia, and after its adjournment he 
returned home. He again went to Philadelphia, after its recess, 
and it may be a matter of some importance to give the items of 
the expenses^ of his second journey to that jjlace. Probably 
Mr. Adams did his own barbering, as we find no tonsorial bill 
against him ; but we do find quite a bill against Mr. Samuel 
Adams, his kinsman and also a delegate to the Continental Con- 
gress, viz : — " For three months' shaving and dressing, one hun- 
dred and seventy-five pounds," which was paid by the Colony of 
Massachusetts. 

1. The delegates appointed ia June, 1774, by the General Court, to attend the 
Continental Congress, were as follows : — Mr. Bowdoin, Mr. Cushing, Mr. Sam- 
uel Adams, Mr. John Adams and Mr. Robert Treat Paine. After a laborious 
and incessant session, they took a short adjournment in the summer of 1775. 
On their arrival home they immediately took their seats in the State Council, to 
■which they had been chosen, where they acted during the recess of Congress. 

2. ''COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY: 

To JOHN ADAMS, Dk. 
1775. £ s. D. 

Aug. 28. To cash paid at Davis's, Eoxbury, for oats, . .008 

" " Watertown for horse keeping and ser- 

vant's board, &c., . . . 1 14 2 

" " Baldwin's for oats, . . .008 

" " Buckministers, at Framingham, . 5 

• " " Bowman's, at Oxford, . . .024 

" " Sherman's, in Grafton, . . 18 



MILITARY. 



397 



The method ami fashion of travelling has so changed, that 
the curious may like to know the course Mr. Adams took at this 
time. He hired a sulky, in which he rode and was escorted by 
his man servant, Joseph Bass, on horseback, although a note on 



Oct. 



Sept. 4. To cash paid at Hide's, in "Woodstock, for board, lodg 
ing for ourselves and servants, and 
horse keeping, from Sat. to Monday, 
" " Clark's, at Pomfret, . 

" " Gary's, at Windham, 

" " Gray's, at Lebanon, . 

" " Taynter's, in Colcliester, 

" " Smith's, in Haddam, . 

" " Camp's, in Durham, 

" " Bear's, of New Haven, 

" " Bryant's, of Milford, 

" " Stratford Ferry, 

" " Stratfield's, for oats, 

" " Betts's, of Nor walk, . 

Penfield's, of Fairfield, , 
" " Fitch's, of Stamford, 

" " Knap's, of Horseneck, 

" " Bull's, of White Plains, 

" " Jasper's, the ferryman at Dobb's Ferry, 

for dinner and ferriage, 
" " Mrs. Watson's, at Hackensack, 

" " Pierson's, of Newark, 

" " Graham's, of Elizabethtowu, 

'* " Elizabeth Town for horse shewing, 

" " for horse and man to Newark, after our 

man, and to the hostler, 
" " Dawson's, at Wood bridge, 

" " Farmer's, of Brunswick, at the ferrj-, 

" " Jones', at Ten Mile Inn, 

" " Princeton, ..... 

" " Trenton, .... 

" " Priestley's, at Bristol, 

Wilson'.s, .... 

" " Shammony Ferry, 

Cash paid for paper, sealing wax, &c., 
Cash for Tavern expenses of connuittee. 
Pamphlets, pajjer, wax, mending bridle and pistol, 
For tobacco, a plan of Boston Harbor, and sundry other 
small things, ...... 

John Wright, for pasturing my horse. 
Paid an apothecary for family medicines. 



Sept. 14. 



16. 



£ s. D. 



1 13 
2 
7 4 
'J 10 
() 
4 
8 () 
6 
8 10 
2 
6 
6 
14 7 
6 11 
16 
3 8 



Nov. 1. 
" 13. 



4 
8 10 
2 10 
18 4 
JO 

5 8 
16 
8 
10 
8 (> 
3 
12 
2 8 
6 
2 
6 
12 

14 
2 14 
12 



MILITARY. 



page 421, vol. II, of Mr, John Adams' works, says, "he was on 
horseback," Avhich evidently implies that he went to his place of 
destination mounted. This, we think, is a mistake, as he relates 
in his bill of items, that he met with a serious accident to his 



Nov. 15. Mr. McLane, for Leather Breeches and Doublet, 

" 27. Mrs. Lucy Leonard, for Mrs. Yard's bill, 
Dec. 8. Paid Mr. Atkin's account, 
" Diy washerwoman, 
" ]\lr. John Stille, 
" Mr. Marshall, 
" James Starr, 
" Mr. Smith, 
" Biy man, Joseph Bass, 
" Mrs. Lucy Leonard, 
" Mr. William Barrell, . 
" Mr. Hiltzerman, 
" Mr. Joseph Fox, 
" William Shepard, 
To one pair of leather gloves. 
To balance of Mrs. Yard's board bill, 
Dec. 9. Cash paid at Anderson's, the Red Lyon, 
" 9. " " Bassenith, at Bristol, 

" 10. " " Shammony Ferry and at Trenton Ferry, 

Cash paid Williams, ..... 

" Hire, at Princeton, 

" Farmers, . . . . . 

" at the Ferry, . . . 

Dec. 12. " Dawson, at Woodbridge, 

" Graham, at Slizabeth Town, 

" Pierson, at Newark, . . . , 

" Hackensack, Phillipsborough and White 

Plains, including ferriage at North Biver, 
Dec. 13. " at Knap, Horse Neck, 

" Betts, Norwalk, .... 

" for shewing horse at White Plains and Nor- 

walk, ...... 

" Fairfield for dinner and shewing horse, . 

Dec. 1(1. Bryant's, at Milford, ..... 

Bear's, New Haven, ..... 

Robinson's, at Wallingford, and at another tavern 
for oats, ....... 

Collins, at Hartford, for entertainment and horse shewin 
Nicholas Brown, for girth, and transporting my wrecked 

sulky, (90 miles,) from Horse Neck to Hartford, . 
Paid for oats and hay at Woodbridge, East Hartford, . 



£ s. 


c 


2 IG 





If) 





16 





1 4 





3 





4 





8 


10 


10 


4 


2 8 





10 





2 3 





8 





10 





10 14 





6 





23 18 


c 


3 


4 


8 


2 


1 


G 


3 





11 


8 


4 





1 


6 


7 


G 


3 





3 





1 4 





G 





8 





4 





7 





8 


G 


5 





G 





11 





1 5 


fi 


1 






MILITARY. 399 

sulky while travelling througli Connecticut State, by his horse 
taking fright and running against a rock and dashing the top 
and body in pieces, and also, that he had to transport it ninety 
miles for repairs. It is also somewhat curious to see how 



Paid Fellow's, at Bolton, for dinner, oats and hay, . 
Cash paid at Windham, for entertainment and horse 
keeping, ....... 

Paid at two Taverns for oats, .... 

" Providence, for entertainment, 

" Mory's, of Norton, .... 

Dec. 21. " Col. Howard's, Bridgewater, 

Paid my man for his account, .... 

Paid my man for another account, 
Paid my man for another account, 
To the hire of two horses from August 1st to December 
21st, 115 days, . . . . . . 



Cash received from the Treasury, 
Received of Mr. Samuel Adams, for his share of our 
expenses from Woodstock to Philadelphia, 

Balance due the Colony, .... 

''COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY: 

To JOHN ADAMS, Dk. 
1775. £. s. D. 

To the hire of two horses from April 26th to August 

Uth, 110 days, . . . 28 

" " a .sulky from April to Dec, . .800 

To wages of a servant from the 2Gth of April to August 

14th, at £;! per month, . . . . 10 IG 

Cash paid Mrs. Yard, in Philadelphia, for board and 

lodging, for myself and servant. 
Paid for keeping my horse, .... 
" Dibley and Stringer, for keeping my horse, 
" Moses Marshall, for sundry medicines, 
" Daniel Smith, for sundries, . 
" cost of saddle at Hor.se Neck, after my sulky 
was wrecked and destroyed, 
Cash paid for a light suit of clothes. 
Cash paid for my expenses of keeping two horses, and 
a servant's expense upon the road from Braintree to 
Philadelphia, and from thence to Braintree, with 
sundry miscellaueous expeuaea while there, . 2G 12 11 



£ 


s. 


D. 





2 


f) 





7 








1 


4 





12 


4 





2 


8 





6 





1 


7 





1 


11 


G 


11 


5 





20 








127 


7 


10 


130 








5 


fi 


4 


135 


(J 


4 


7 


18 


6 



30 


18 


10 


4 


IG 


3 


7 











8 





3 








31 








4 









400 MILITARY. 

punctiliously exact Mr. Adams was in enumerating the most 
minute and trivial items in his bill of expenses while travelling 
to and in Congress, from which members of Congress at the 
present time, might take an examjDle. 

£ S. D. 
Paid Mr. Joseph Bass for a surtout coat and a pair of 

leather breeches before I went, which were brought 

out of Boston, April Itlth, and there remained, . 3 16 

To damages done my sulky, by my horse taking fright 

and running against a rock and dashing the top and 

body in pieces, . . . . . 12 8 G 

134 8 

Balance due the colony from another sheet, . . 7 18 6 

Prior charge of Mrs. Yard, . . . . 4 15 9 



12 14 3 
Balance due Mr. Adams, , . . . 121 13 9 

A true account, errors excepted, John Adams. 

Nov. 13. To 2 ounces of Cinnamon, , . . .060 

" 13. To 1 ounce of Turkey Rhubarb, . . . 2 6 

" 13. To 1 ounce of Cloves, . . . . .020 

To 1 ounce of Pink Hoot, . . . . 2 

11 6 

Nov. 29. To washing 7 dozen of linen, at 3s. 6d. per dozen, . 15 9 

For mending, . . . . . . 13 9 

Board from Sept. 12th to December 8th, at 30s. per week, 18 17 

Servant's board for the same time, at 15s. per week, . 9 8 6 

Clubb in Punch and Wine, at dinner, in your own room, 110 

Spermaceti candles, at 5s. per week, . . , 3 

Fire wood for 8 weeks, at 7s. 6d. per week, . . 110 

Cash paid for Post, . . . . . 3 

46 8 

" HON. SAMUEL ADAMS AND JOHN ADAMS, 

To JOSEPH BASS, Dk. 

£ S. D. 

Nov. 8. For travelling charges to Philadelphia, 

One dozen jjipes, ..... 

Horse hire, . . . , . 

Nov. 28. For one dozen pipes, .... 

For 1-2 dozen ditto, ..... 

To two pounds of tobacco, 

23 15 9 
One-half by Mr. John Adams. 



19 8 





15 





1 3 


9 


18 





3 





18 






MILITARY. 



401 



The system of enlistment, in Avhicli they served in the ]levo- 
lutionary war, was simihiv to tlie French and Indian war. Tlie 
time of service being short, the name of the same person will 
occur several times as they re-enlisted. Still the draft upon the 
town for men and money was quite onerous and severe. Tlie first 
year of open hostilities she sent nine com]>anies, the second ten, 
and in the other years of the war a like proportion. The patri- 



' JOHN ADAMS, 



]77o. 



To J. YOUNG, Dk 



Juue U. To new pad and doublet, reiued curbed bridle, 

" luendiug an old bridle, 
July 3. " a cover for a sword scabbard, 
July 1-1. " a small pad for housings, 
July 3. " a portmanteau and strap, 
July 3. " a pair of pistol bags, 



£ s. D. 

14 (J 

1 

;i 

2 

1 7 
10 



"JOHN ADAMS, 



1775. 



To WILLIAM BAKRELL, 



June 21. To 2 1-2 yards of Nankeen, at 15s. 

23. " 1-2 yard more, 
Oct. " 2yardsquality binding, 4s. 

" JOIIJV ADAMS, 



To MR. STILLE, 



June 24. To making a suit of Nankeen, 

3 3-4 yards of Linen, 3s. Gd., 
" Buttons, 

Thread, Is. Gd.; silk, 3s.; hair, 2s.; Buckram, 
3<1.; and Staying, Is. (id., 
Nov. 7. To making 2 pair drawers, 

3 yards of supertiue white llannel, 7s., 

May 13. To 1 bottle Brandy, 
-(J. " 1 bottle Brandy, 
July 10. " 1 quart of spirits, . 

To 5 dinners. Club, with the delegates, 

Sept. IG. To Glb.s. Cut Tobacco, Is., 

" Pigtail, 2s. (id., . . , * ' 

"1 Earthen Pot, . . , 

52 



3 7 


G 


., Dk. 




£ s. 


D. 


1 17 


(! 


7 


G 


8 





2 13 





:, Dn. 




£ s. 


D. 


1 G 





13 


i 


2 


7 


8 


3 


4 





1 1 





3 14 10 i 


2 


6 


2 


G 


2 


(5 


2 U 


8 


2 17 


2 


G 





2 


G 





4 



8 10 " 



402 MILITARY. 

otisni of the town is fully exemplified by the active part she 
took in the conflict, sending about sixteen hundred men into the 
field of strife out of a population of 2871. Even half of this pro- 
portion would liave been a large number to have sent. No 
wonder that Mrs. Adams says, " tliat if this great demand for 
men continues, the women will be called upon to attend to the 
agricultural pursuits." The call for means to carry on the war 
was equally as oppressive on the inhabitants of the town as the 
call for men. In one year the town assessed upon its citizens 
the large sum of one million of dollars for the purchase of beef 
for the array and other necessary expenses of the town. The 
enhanced price of all articles required to sustain life caused 
great suffering and distress, as in 1779 Mrs. Adams says: — -"We 
have been greatly distressed for the want of grain. I have 
scarcely known the look or taste of biscuit or flour for this four 
months. Yet thousands have been much worse off, having no 
grain of any sort." At this juncture of the conflict, when money 
and men were hard to procure, the liberal, generous and patri- 
otic General Palmer, an Englishman by birth, came forward in 
open town meeting and gave them one thousand and eighty 
dollars for tlie enlistment of thirty-six men, called for by Con- 
gress in 1780, and at the adjourned meeting it was found that 
another call had been made for nine more men. For this call 
he gave two Inindred and seventy dollars more, making the total 
amount thirteen hundred and fifty dollars, for which he received 
the gratitude and earnest thanks of tlie town. Thus, we see 
tlie great sacrifices our ancestors were obliged to make in estab- 
lishing the American Republic. 

The following persons of Braintree received high military 
])romotions : — Jonathan Bass, as Colonel, from, the South Pre- 
'^ cinct; Major Stephen Penniman and Colonel Ebenezer Thayer, 
from tlie Middle ; General Palmer, from the North, first as Col- 
onel and afterwards as General. 

Capt. Seth Turner's company of minute men of the South 
Precinct of Braintree, Col. Benj. Lincoln's Kegiment, assembled 
April 19th, 1775. Time of service, four days.^ 



]. We do not vouch for the correct orthography of these names; we have 
riveu the uames ou these rolls as we have foimd them. 



MILITARY, 403 

" Seth Tiu'ner, Captain ; Moses Speai*, 1st Lieutonant ; Natlian- 
iel Pain, 2d Licntcnant ; Noali Tliayer, Josejih ToAver, Samnel 
Belcher, Josepli Spear, Sergeants ; Isaac Nilcs, Ebenezer Crane, 
Samuel Cheesman, Hezekiah Thayer, Corporals ; Micajah White, 
Fifer ; Eli Spear, Drummer ; Joseph Ilaywanl, Jonathan Wild, 
N Thomas Penniman, Thomas French, Isaac Spear, Josepli Gooch, 
Joshua Hayward, Ephriam Wales, Hezekiah Ludden, Nathaniel 
Luddeu, Jr., Joshua French, Isaac Spear, Jr., Seth Turner, Jr., 
John Jordan, Xehemiah French, Deering; Spear, Nathaniel Pain, 
Timothy Smith, Levi Tliayer, Pufus Stetson, Zehulon Ilayward, 
Samuel Cheesman, Isaac Thayer, Jolin Hunter, Seth Mann, 
Micajah White, Epliriam Hunt, Timothy French, Gideon Tow- 
er, JohnJSlone, David Slone, James Stoddard, Phillip Silvester, 
John Wild, Isaac Smith, Josiah Thayer, Jr., Sampson Dunbar, 
Pompey Negro, l^ufus Thayer." — Muster Rolls, Vol. XIII, p. 
144. 

A true return of the travels and service of Capt. Eliplialet 
Sawen's company of minute men of Braintree, in Col. Benjamin 
Lincoln's Regiment, assembled April 19th, 1775. Time of ser- 
vice, eight days. 

"Eliphalet Sawen, Captain; Nathaniel Niles, Lieutenant; 
Mathias Cheesman, Ensign ; Zaccheus Thayer, Clerk ; Joseph 
y Poison, .lacob Wales, Beiij_amin Hayward, John Niles, Sergeants ; 
Moses Littlefield, Gideon Stetson, Samuel Wood, James Niles, 
Corporals ; Lemuel Spear, Drummer ; Elisha Wales, Fifer ; 
Noah Cheesman, Ebenezer Niles, David liurrell, Daniel French, 
Thomas French, Jr., Paul Clark, Joshua Clark, Joseph Gooch, 
Jr., Benoni Hayward, Aaron Hayward, Jr., Ilopestill Bradley, 
Jacob Himt, Samuel Crane, Ephriam Man, Benjamin Dyer, John 
Slone, Jr., Jacob Spear, Samuel Spear, 2d, Jeremiah Thayer, 
Eleazer Taft, Robert Milton, Jonathan Wild, Jr., Ebenezer 
White, Jonathan Wales, Timothy Thayer, Noah Whitcomb, 
Benjamin Stetson, Josiah Thayer, Jr., Joseph Porter, Paul 
Thayer, John Wild, Samuel Cheesman, Jr., Nathaniel Niles, Jr., 
Joshua French, Jr."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XIII, p. S8. 

A muster roll of Lieut. Linficlirs comjtany of IJraintree, in 
Col. Benjamin Lincoln's Jlegiment. Term of service, four 
days. • 



404 MILITAEY. 

"Elibu Adams/ Captain; David Linfield, 1st Lieutenant; Sim- 
eon Thayer, 2d Lieutenant ; Epliriara Thayer, Joseph White, Jr., 
Matthew Pratt, William Linfield, 3d, Sergeants; Jacob Whit- 
comb, Eben Pratt, Cornelius White, David Linfield, Jr., Cor^DO- 
rals ; Zebulon Hayward, Drummer ; Joseph Waters, Fifer ; 
Barnabus Clark, William Linfield, Moses Curtis, Jonathan Ran- 
dall, Benjamin Thayer, Elijah French, Nathaniel Hunt, Joseph 
Belcher, Thomas Belcher, David White, Joseph Porter, Timothy 
Thayer, John Hollis, Jr., Stephen Cheesman, William Thayer, 
Bartholomew Thayer, Nathaniel Linfield, Samuel Allen, Elijah 
French, Jr., Daniel White, Jr., John White, Jr., Thomas King- 
man, John Whitcomb, Samuel Linfield, David Linfield." (One 
name could not be deciphered.) — Muster Rolls, Vol. II, p. 184. 

A true return of the travel and time of the minute company, 
under the command of Capt. Silas Wild of Braintree, in Col. 
Benjamin Lincoln's Regiment, April 19th, 1775. In service nine 
days. 

" Silas Wild, Captain; Stephen Penniman, Lieutenant; Rob- 
ert Hayden, Ensign ; William Harriman, Jonathan Nash, W. 
Hayden, Jonathan Holbrook, Sergeants; Amminadab Hayden, 
James Tower, Ebenezer Thayer, John-Thayer, Corporals ; Jesse 
Pratt, Drummer; AVilliam Wild, Fifer; Joseph Niles, Abel 
Cheesman, Samuel Noyes, Benjamin Cheesman, James Lovell, 
Samuel White, (illegible) French, Josiah Thayer, Caleb Faxon, 
Joseph Arnold, Samuel White Thayer, Ebenezer Thayer, Clem- 
ent Hayden, John Tower, Alexander Hayden, Uriah Thayer, 
Samuel Clark, Daniel Hayward, Samuel Veasey, Benjamin 
Veasey, Jacob Nash, Loring White, Edmund Soaper, Joseph 
Allen, Nathaniel Wales, Calvin Thayer, Eli Ludden, Thayer, 
(the sirname was illegible,) Thomas Ludden, Belcher, (the sir- 
name was illegible.)" — Muster Rolls, Vol. XIII, p. 152. 

1. There seems to have been some mistake about this roll, as Elihu Adams, 
the younger brother of President John Adams, is interlined in the place of Mr. 
Liulield, as Captain of the company. Mrs. John Adams, in her letters, seems 
to corroborate the fact that Mr. Adams was Captain of the company, as she says 
in her account of the .attack of the Americans on the English foraging P'irty at 
Grape Island, — " Botli your brothers were there; your younger brother with hia 
company. He Avas one of the first to ventui-e on board a schooner, to laud upon 
the island." 



:^rILITARY. 405 

Time of service of a company of minute men, in Brainti'ee, 
under the command of Copt. John Vinton, in Col. Benjamin 
Lincoln's Regiment, assembled April 29th, 1775, three days, 

" John Vinton, Captain ; Eben Thayer, 3d Lieutenant ; Thomas 
Hollis, Jr., Ensign ; Nathaniel French, Adam Ilobard, Silas IIol- 
lis,Ichabod Ilolbrook, Jr., Sergeants; Zebah Hayden, Ephriam 
Thayer, Josiah French, Reuben French, Corporals ; Caleb French, 
Drummer; Robert Ilayden, Isaac Thayer, Enoch ITayden, Adam 
Curtis, Edward Checsman, Lemuel Veazie, Elkanah Thayer, 
James Faxon, Jr., William Hobard, Daniel Hayward, Daniel 
Ilollis, Zach. Markquand Thayer, Elihu Penniman, Benjamin 
Veazie, Jr., Nathaniel Thayer, Nathaniel Tlollis, Nathaniel 
Wales, Jr., Benjamin Whitmarsh, Eli Ludden, Ephriam Field, 
Benjamin French, Nathaniel Thayer, 2d, Nehemiah Thayer, 
John Hobard, 2d, Joseph ITayden, Silvaniis Ludden, Oliver 
Thayer, Benjamin Ludden, 8dj Daniel Ilayward, 2d, Samuel 
Cheesman, Jr., Joseph Biford, Phillip Thayer, Solomon Thayer, 
2d, James Nash, Peter ^Slone, John Thayer, Jr., Abraham 
Thayer, Jr., Anthony Hunt, Christopher Thayer, Jr., Noah 
Thayer, Jr."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XIII, p. 145. 

A true return of the time and service of a company of minute 
men, under the command of Capt. Stephen Penniman, in Brain- 
tree, in room of Capt. Silas Wild, Avho marched the 19th of 
April, 1775. In service from April 28th to May 5th, 1775. 



~N 



Names. 


Time of Ser 


VICE. 


Amount Paid, 


" Stephen Penniman, Captain, 


seven days, 


1 


10 





Robert Hayden, Lieutenant, 


C( 




1 








Jonathan Ilolbrook, Sergeant, 


(( 







12 





James Tower, Corporal, 


(( 







11 





John Thayer, Corporal, 


(( 







11 





Jesse Pratt, Drummer, 


(( 







11 





William Wild, Fifcr, 


il 







11 





Jacob Nash, 


11 







10 





Loring White, 


11 







10 





Abraham Thayer, 


a 







10 





Edmund S(»|»er, Jr., 


(( 







1(1 





Joseph Allen, 


(( 







10 






ISriTJTARY. 


* 








£ 


s. 


D. 


seven days, 





10 





u 





10 





three days, 





4 


2 1-2 


a 





4 


2 1-2 



406 



Calvin Thayer, 
Eli Ludden, 
John Thayer, 
Joseph Blanchard, 

Sixteen men."— Muster Eolls, Vol. XIII, p. 63. 

A true return of the time and service of a company in the 
North Precinct of Braintree, iinder the command of Capt. John 
Hall, Jr., in Col. Benjamin Lincoln's Regiment. Assembled 
April 19th and 29th, 1775. Time of service, seven days. 

"John Hall, Jr., Captain; Daniel Arnold, Lieutenant; Seth 
Baxter, 2d, Thomas Newcomb, Samuel Bass, 2d, Thomas Pratt, 
John Vinton, Sergeants; John Mills, William Field, Eben Field, 
Jr., Moses Brackett, Corporals ; Joseph Gleeson, Fifer; Benja- 
min Pray, Drummer ; Lemuel Field, William Marsh, Jr., Jona- 
than Marsh, John Briesler, Jacob Spear, Peter Newcomb, Eben. 
Brown, James Clark, Jr., Nathan Arnold, John Nightingale, 
Oliver Newcomb, Edmund Bass, Samuel Spear, Daniel Spear, 
Abram Newcomb, Nathan Tirrell, John Field, Jr., Stephen Hay- 
den, Benjamin S:^nders, William Spear, Jr., William Brackett, 
Joseph Field, 2d, Jackson Field, Isaac Copeland, Samuel K. 
Glover, John Pray, Seth Copeland, John Copeland." — Muster 
Kolls, Vol. XII, p. 174. 

The several independent companies enlisted in 1775, .at tlie 
beginning of the war, not being regimented, caused some little 
controversy between the town and the Continental Congress, in 
reference to their pay, as the following report of General Wash- 
ington will illustrate : — 

" Enclosed you have a copy of a representation sent to me by 
the Legislative body of this Province respecting four companies 
stationed at Braintree, Weymouth and Hingham. As they 
were never regimented, and Avere doing duty at a distance from 
the rest of the Army, I did not know whether to consider them 
as a part of it; nor do I think myself authorized to direct pay- 
ment for them without the approbation of Congress." Dec. 31st, 
177.5._Sp:uk's Washington, Vol. Ill, p. 21 S. 

Gn this same (luestion John Adams says, in a letter dated at 
Philadelphia, .7an. Kith, 177B : — " Congress has just received a let- 



MILITARY. 407 

ter from General Washington, inclosing the copy of an applica- 
tion of our General Assembly to him, to order payment to four 
companies stationed at ]5raintree, Weymouth and Ilingliam. 
The General says they Avere never regimented, and he cannot 
comply with the request of the Assembly, without direction of 
Congress. A committee is aj)pointed to consider tlie letter, of 
which I am one. I fear there Avill be a difficulty, and therefore 
"^ I shall endeavor to prevent a report on this letter, unless I shall 
see a prospect of justice being done the Colony." 

Roll of Capt. Seth Turner's independent company, all enlisted 
from May 3d to May 13th, 1775. 

" Seth Turner, Captain ; Seth Baxter, 1st Lieutenant; Thomas 
Newcomb, 2d Lieutenant ; Jacob Wales, Joseph Payson, John 
Vinton, Jacob Frieze, Sergeants ; Benjamin Dyer, James Niles, 
Lemuel Dwelle, Elijah Gurney, Corporals ; Eli Spear, Drum- 
mer ; Joseph Wales, Fifer ; Nathaniel Arnold, John Avers, Ed. 
Willard Baxter, Hopestill Bradley, Moses Brackett, Jr., William 
Brackett, John Briesler, Noah Cheesman, Leonard Cleverly, 
Elisha Wild, Joseph Curtis, Lemuel Clark, Regemmelech Gush- 
ing, Samuel Clark, Joshua Clark, Ichabod Dyer, Lemuel Field, 
Timothy French, William Ford, Adam Hunt, Ebenezer Han- 
cock, Nathaniel Ilayden, Simeon Ilollis, Thomas Hay ward, Zeb- 
ulon Hayward, Nathaniel Ludden, John Morrain, Abraham 
Newcomb, Bryant Newcomb, Daniel Nash, Moses Nash, Jr., 
Micajah Newcomb, Peter Newcomb, Benjamin Pain, William 
Penniman, Benjamin Richardson, Jacob Spear, Jacob Spear, 'id, 
Rufus Stetson, Wm. Sumner, Benjamin Thayer, Seth Turner, 
Benjamin Veazie, Daniel White, Jr., John Wild, Noah AVhit- 
comb, Samuel Wild." 

All the names on the roll, stated to have belonged to Brain- 
tree. Term of service, against each man's name, was from 8 
months, 1 week, 1 day, to 8 months, li weeks, 4 <lays; all expiring 
at the same time, Jan. 1st, 177(5. The [)rivates were i)aid forty ^ 
shillings per month, one month's jiay in advance ; Captain's j)ay, 
six ])Ounds per month; 1st Lieutenant, four pounds per month. 

A true return of the time and service of Capt. John Yin- 
ton's inde])endent company, 1775. Time of service, 8 months, 
li weeks and -4 days. 



408 MILITARY. 

"John Vinton, Captain; Ebenezer Thayer, 1st Lieutenant; 
Silas Hollis, 2d Lieutenant ; Ichabod HolbrooK, Jr., Enoch Hay- 
den, John Hunt, William Hobard, Sergeants ; Ephriam Thayer, 
Reuben French, Moses Arnold, Daniel Hollis, Corporals ; Barnn- 
bus Clark, Stephen Hayden, Drummers; David Porter, Fifer; 
John Hobard, 2d, Ebenezer Whitmarsh, Barnabus Hollis, Philip 
Thayer, Joseph Blanchard, Daniel Hayden, Jr., Jacob Nash, 
Cyrus Hayden, Richard Peirce, (Stoughton,) John Nightingale, 
Ephriam Hunt, John Doble, Richard Thayer, Silas Lovell, Isaiah 
Faxon, Nathaniel Wales, Jr., Peter Slone, John Slone, Jr., James 
Nash, 2d, John Thayer, 3d, Samuel Spear, Jr., Joseph Doble, 
Benjamin French, Loring White, Abraham Thayer, Jr., Nathan- 
iel Savel, Benjamin Veazie, Jr., Edward Cheesman, Thomas 
Holbrook, Jacob Hayden, Elliot Clark, Caleb Hayden, Solomon 
Thayer, Daniel Hayward, Zebah Thayer, Jonathan Arnold, 
James Thayer, Anthony Hunt, Silas Hayward, Benjamin Nash, 
Jr., Edward Bass, Joshua Hobard, Bizer Ludden, William Mills, 
Nathaniel Holbrook, James Thayer, Jeremiah Colly, Daniel Dow- 
ner, of Middlebough."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XVI, p. 54. 

Muster roll of an independent company in service of the Col- 
ony of Massachusetts Bay, from Jan. 1st, 1776, to June 7th, in- 
clusive, under the command of Cai^t-JEheiiezer Thayer, tertius. 
Time of service, three months and one day. 

" Ebenezer Thayer, tertius. Captain ; Isaac Thayer, 1st Lieu- 
tenant ; Joseph Wild, Wm. Hobard, Phillip Thayer, Elliot Clark, 
Sergeants ; John Copeland, Anthony Hunt, James Clark, Corpo- 
rals; Gideon Frencli, Drummer; Francis Faxon, Fifer; Benja- 
min Veazie, Barnabus Clark, Calelj TIayden, Daniel Hayward, 
Zebah Thayer, John Nightingale, Richard Thayer, Lemuel Clark, 
Nathaniel Wales, Abraham Thayer, Josej)h Veazie, Samuel Bass, 
Jr., Ebenezer Brown, John Hobard, Wm. Thayer, Ahay French, 
Jonathan Thayer, Joseph Adams, John Scudder, Uriah Thayer, 
Silvanus Ludden, Benjamin Ludden, Eleazer Beale, Micah Wild, 
Jr., Richard Peirce, Wm. Wild, Jr., Calvin Thayer, Benjamin 
Milton, Nathaniel Belcher, Tliomas Belcher, Zeba Cheesman, 
Levi Wild, Jonathan Whitcomb, Ebenezer French, Jonathan 
Fessenden, Joshua French."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XXIII, p. 123. 

A true return of the time and service of a company, under the 



MILITAET. 409 

command of Captain Sawen, in Col. Joseph Palmer's Regiment, 
M-ho assembled in Braintree, on the 4th of March, 1776. Time 
of service, fifteen days. 

" Eliphalet Sawen, Captain ; Simeon Thayer, 1st Lieutenant ; 
Joseph Tower, 2d Lieutenant ; Joseph White, Joseph Spear, 
Ephraim Thayer, Samuel Jones, Samuel Spear, Sergeants; 
Atkins Clark, Elisha Wales, Samuel Cheesman, Joseph Chees- 
man, Joseph Porter, Corporals ; Zeha Hayward, Drummer ; 
Joseph Belcher, Daniel French, William Linfield, Cornelius 
White, Ebenezer Pratt, Timothy Thayer, David White, Jr., 
Nathaniel Hunt, Jr., Jacob Whitcomb, Nathaniel Pain, Benja- 
min Pain, Samuel Allen, Joshua Thayer, David Linfield, Samuel 
Wood, M. French, Deering Spear, John Stetson, Paul Thayer, 
Jeremiah Thayer, Jr., Richard Spear, Noah Cheesman, Isaac 
Thayer, Benoni Hayward, Simeon Hayward, Benjamin Stetson, 
Joseph Payson, Lemuel Sj^ear, John Gooch, James Gooch, 
Seth Man, Jr., Benjamin Man, Moses Littlefield, Eli Spear, 
Luther Spear, David Slone, Peter Slonc, John Slone, Thomas 
French, Timothy French, Richard Thayer, Benjamin Hayward,^ 
Oliver Thayer, James Niles, Thomas West, Zebulon Hayward, 
Hezekiah Sutton, Isaac Stephens, Jas. Tilley, Jonathan Thayer, 
James Packard, John Jordan, Lemuel Sutton, Gideon Tower, 
Simeon Thayer, Jr., William Thayer, James Kingman, Peter 
Thayer, Jr., William Blanchard, Daniel Hunting, Joseph Hay- 
ward, Micah Thayer."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XXII, p. 206. 

A true return of the time and sei-vice of Capt. Moses French's 
company, in Col. Joseph Palmer's (who was a citizen of Brain- 
tree) Regiment, assembled March 4th, 1776. In service fifteen 
days. 

" Moses French, Captain ; Robert Hayden, 1st Lieutenant ; 
Thomas Hollis, 2d Lieutenant ; William Allen, Clerk ; Nathan- 
iel French, Adam Ilobart, Gaius Thayer, Jonathan Holbrook, 
Sergeants ; Josiah French, Caleb Hunt, Enoch Penniman, Nehe- ^ 
miah Thayer, Corporals; Elijah Thayer, Drummer; David P. 
Hayward, Caleb Hayden, Jacob Allen, Samuel Clark, Barnabus 
Thayer, Jonathan Thayer, Lemuel Veazey, Samuel Curtis, Jo- 
siah Hunt, Adam Curtis, Silas Veazey, Nathaniel Capen, James 
Faxon, Elkanuah Thayer, Ebenezer Penniman, Zeba Ilayden, / 

53 



410 MILITARY. 

Caleb Hobard, Jr., John Hobard, Jr., Joseph Riford, John Hunt, 
Eben Hayden, Jr., Zach. Markquand Thayer, Nehemiah Hol- 
brook, Thomas Holbrook, Edward Faxon, Ephraim Blanchard, 
Ahay French, John Clark, 2d, Noah Thayer, James Holbrook, 
Henry Thayer, Abijah Allen, Hezekiah Thayer, Azariah Faxon, v 
Jr., S. Copeland, Isaac Copeland, Caleb French, Gideon French, 
Joshua Hobard, Richard Thayer, Jos. Wild, Silas Lovell, Benja- 
min Wales, David Holbrook."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XIX, p. 97. 

A pay roll of Capt. Seth Turner's independent company, in 
the pay of Massachusetts from Jan. 1st to May 22d, 1776, inclu- 
sive. Time of service, four months and two days. 

" Seth Turner, Captain ; Thomas Newcomb, 1st Lieutenant ; 
Jacob Wales, 2d Lieutenant; Macah Newcomb, Benjamin Dyer, 
John Wyld, John Niles, Sei-geants ; Elijah Gurney, Nathaniel 
Hayden, Moses Nash (Weymouth), Nathaniel Arnold, Corpo- 
rals ; Daniel Porter, Drummer ; Joseph Wales, Fifer ; Peter 
Newcomb, William Brackett, Amos Stetson, Abraham New- 
comb (Boston), John Bardon, Daniel Hayward, Hopestill Brad- 
ley, Moses Brackett, Bryant Newcomb, Joseph French, Benj. 
Richardson, David Nash, John Ayer (Weymouth), Ebenezer 
\ Hancock (Boston), William Penniraan, Ely Spear, Jacob Frize, 
Daniel Baxter, Josiah Thayer, Timothy Thayer, Seth Spear, 
Moses Littlefi eld, William Spear, Elijah Underwood, John Mills, 
David Hollis (Weymouth), Seth Vinton (Stoughton), Aaron 
Littlefield, Ebenezer White, William Arnold, Phillip Silvester, 
Noah Thayer, Edmund Smith, Benjamin Nash, William Bates 
(Weymouth), Zadock Nash, Bartholomew Thayer, Jacob Spear, 
Edward Willard, Josiah Vesey Baxter, Oliver Newcomb, Abra- 
ham Hayward (Boston), Thomas Hayward, Samuel Brackett, 
Daniel Richards."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XXIII, p. 150.^ 

Pay roll of Capt. Seth Turner's company, under the command 
of Col. Thomas Marshall, in the j^ay of Massachusetts State, 
from May 22d to Nov. 1st, 1776. This company was made up 
mostly by men from Bridgewater and Middleborough. The 
paper is broken away so much, that we were able to give the 
residence of but a few of them. 

1. Captain Turner paid four companies under his command, stationed at 
Hull from January to May, 1777.— Muster Eolls, Vol. XXV, p. 84. 



^ 



MILITARY. 411 

"Seth Turner, Captain; Thomas Newcomb, 1st Lieutenant; 
Jacob Wales, 2d Lieutenant ; James Dunbar (Bridgewater), 
Micah Newcomb, Benjamin Dyer, Moses Nash (Weymouth), 
Sergeants ; Peter Ne-wcomb, Solomon Keith (Bridgewater), 
Elijah Gurncy, Hopestill Bradley, Corporals; Samuel Eaton, 
Drummer (Middleborough) ; Jos. Wales, Fifer ; James Walker, 
Nathaniel Arnold, Elisha Blanchard, William Brackett, Carver 
Bates (Middleborough), Jona. Cleverly, Theophelus Chrocker 
(Middleborough), Duke Scott (Middleborough), Jesse Curtis 
(Bridgewater), Benj. Cain (Middleborough), Nathaniel Eaton 
(Middleborough), John French, Thomas Hayward, Marshall 
Walker, Asa Washburn (Bridgewater), Daniel Hayward, Bar- 
nabus Hayward, Eliphas Hunt (Weymouth), Luther Hall (Rayn- 
liam). Job Hall (Raynham),Nath. Ludden, Isaac Leech (Bridge- 
water), Samuel Leech (Bridgewater), Philip Lee (Bridgewater), 
Abraham Newcomb, Brient Newcomb, Zadock Nash, Benjamin 
Pain, Daniel Richardson, Abzerther Richmond, Samuel Stoder, 
Samuel Spear, Benjamin Shaw, Pearrese Simons, Benj. HoUis, 
Edmund Smith, Seth Turner, David Vinton, Josiah Veasey, Bar- 
nabus Washburn, Geo. Willbar, David Wallis, E. W. Baxter." 

A pay roll due to Capt. Stephen Penniman's company, in Col. 
France's Regiment, "being for Travell into Campe and back 
again, one Penny per mile ; also, for one day's pay for every 
twenty miles Travell home from Camp, and their Gun and 
Blanckett Money," the said company being draughted from the 
towns of Hingham, Braintree, Dorchester, Stoughten, Stough- 
tenham and Milton, in 1776. Time of service, one day. 

" Stephen Penniman, Captain ; Paul Thayer, Uriah Thayer, 
John Copling, Deering Spear, William Wild, Adonijah French, 
Silvanus Ludden, Calvin Thayer, Beza Ludden, Oliver Thayer, 
Moses Whitcomb, Eliphas Thayer, Mesheck Penniman, James v^ 
Kingman, Nathaniel Hunt, Nathaniel Belcher, Abel Cheesman, 
Wm. Hayden, Joseph Man, Gideon Stetson, Benjamin Hunt, 
Benjamin Cheesman, David Tliayer, Nehemiah Hayden, Jesse 
Pratt, Zebulon Howard."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XXII, p. 29. 

Capt. Stephen Penniman's company in Col. Dyke's Regiment, 
1776. 

" Stephen Penniman, Captain ; Paul Thayer, Ensign ; Joseph 



412 MILITARY. 

Wild, Sergeant; Nathan Holbrook, Jesse Pratt, Corporals; 
Deering Sj^ear, Dnimmer ; Franois Faxon, Fifer; John Coi^ling, 
Benjamin Cheesman, William Wild, William Caggill, David 
Thayer, Abel Cheesman, Bezer Ludden, Calvin Thayer, Sylva- 
nus Ludden, Moses Wliitcomb, Nathaniel Hunt, Benjamin Hunt, 
Oliver Thayer, Abraham Jones, Gideon Stetson, Joseph Man, 
Jr., Zebulon Howard, Samuel Thayer, John Wild, Jacob Hayden, 
Samuel Ludden, John Burrell, Elijah Thayer, Samuel Hunt." — 
Muster Rolls, Vol. XXVI, p. 427. 
N/ Braintree men in Capt. Abijah Bang's company, in Col. 
Dyke's Regiment, 1776. 

"Nathaniel Paine, Lemuel Veazie, Joseph Adams, Eliphas 
Thayer, Richard Spear, Seth Mann, Moses Littlefield, Samuel 
Holms, Aaron Littlefield,' Michael White, EphraimMann, Sam- 
uel Mann, Ezra Glover, Alex. Thayer, David Baker." — Muster 
Rolls, Vol. XXVI, p. 4271. 

A true statement of the time and service of the company of 
the North Precinct of Braintree, under the command of Capt. 
Edmund Billings, in Col. Jonathan Bass' Regiment, assembled 
on the 13th of June, 1776, in order to drive the British ships 
out of Boston harbor. Term of service, five days. 

" Edmund Billings, Captain ; James Clark, 1st Lieutenant ; 
Seth Baxter, 2d Lieutenant ; Elisha Glover, Seth Spear, Ebene- 
zer Newcomb, Benjamin Torrey, Sergeants; Wm. Field, Joseph 
Field, Moses Brackett, Joseph Bass, Jr., Corporals ; Oliver New- 
comb, Drummer; John Briesler, Fifer; John Hayden, Joseph 
Tirrell, Elijah Belcher, Joseph Baxter, George Briesler, Jona- 
than Fessenden, Elijah Vesey, Jackson Field, John Field, Jr., 
Ebenezer Field, Jr., Nathaniel Beale, John Coj^eland, Henry 
Hayden, Daniel Spear, John Bass, Jas. Clark, Jr., Micah Wilde, 
Jr., Amos Stetson, Peter Clark, Gregory Clark, Joseph Tirrell, 
Jr., Printes Gushing, Samuel Newcomb, Benjamin Pray, Peter 
Brackett, George Frost, Nathaniel Adams, Benjamin Hollis, W. 
Baxter, Jonathan Marsh, Jr., Jonathan Marsh, Nathan Tirrell, 
James Brackett, Ebenezer Brackett, (illegible) Mason, Jr., Wil- 
liam Spear, Jr., Thomas Gurney, Joseph Palmer, Jr., John Thax- 
ter, Jr., Nathaniel Hayden, Prince Pcro." — Muster Rolls, Vol. 
Xyil, p. 62. 



l^riLITART. 413 

A true return of Capt. Moses French's company, in Col. Jona- 
than Bass' Regiment, who asscrahlecl at Braintree, June 13th, 
1776, upon orders to march to Houghs Neck, so called, and 
June 24th, upon orders to Nantasket. Time of service, four days. 

"Moses French, Captain; Robert Ilayden, 1st Lieutenant; 
Thomas Hollis, 2d Lieutenant ; Nathaniel French, Adam Hobart, 
Gains Thayer, John Holbrook, Sergeants ; Joseph French, Caleb 
^ Hunt, Enoch Penniman, Nehemiah Thayer, Corporals ; David 
Person Hayward, Caleb Hayward, Capt. Stephen Penniman, * 
Isaac Houghton, Jacob Allen, Barnabus Thayer, Zach. Mar- 
quand Thayer, James Tower, (illegible) Faxon, Jr., Lieut. Sam- 
uel Curtis, David Holbrook, Jr., James Holbrook, Joseph "Wild, 
Joshua Hobart, Calel) French, Zebe Hayden, Joseph Riford, 
^ Ebenezer Penniman, William Thayer, Benjamin Wales, Ebene- 
zer (illegible), Elliot Clark, Azariah Faxon, Jr., Ebenezer French, 
Seth Copeland, Lemuel Veazie, Nathaniel Wales, Jr., Adam 
Curtis, Nathaniel Capen, Silas Veazie, Elkannah Thayer, Nehe- 
miah Holbrook, Phillip Thayer."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XIX, 
p. 56. 

A true return of Capt. Nathaniel Belcher's company, in Col. 
Jonathan Bass' Regiment, who assembled at Braintree, June 
13th, 1776, upon orders to march to Horse Neck, so called, and 
June 24th, upon orders to Nantasket. Served from two to four 
days. 

" NaJj^ianiel Belcher, Captain; David Linfield, 1st Lieutenant; > 
Ephraim Thayer, 2d Lieutenant ; Samuel Jones, Jonathan 
Wales, William Linfield, Samuel Allen, Elisha Wales, Sergeants ; 
William Blanchard, Daniel French, Corporals ; Benjamin Clark, 
Drummer ; James Kingman, Fifer ; Joshua French, Jr., Samuel 
Linfield, Nathaniel Paine, Jr., Reuben Thayer, Timothy Thayer, 
Bartholomew Thayer, Joseph White, Jr., John White, Jr., 
David White, Jacob Whitcomb, John Whitcomb, Samuel Bass, 
Joseph Belcher, Mathias Cheesman, John Jordan, Ziba Chees- 
man, Jonathan Randall, Simeon Thayer, Jacob Gloyd, David 
Linfield, Jr., John Lovell, Nathaniel Belcher, Lemuel Ludden, >' 
Peter Thayer, Jr., Noah Thayer, Jr., Simeon Tliayer, Jr., Setli 
Turner, Jr., Cornelius White, Noah Whitcomb, Jr., Moses 
Whitcomb, Eben Pratt, Thomas Wales, William Thayer, Micah 



414 MILITARY, 

Thayer, Daniel White, Jr., Solomon White, Joseph Porter, 
Israel Beatty, Jr., Thomas Belcher, William Linliekl, Joseph 
French, Joshua French, Nathaniel Hunt." — Muster Rolls, Vol. 
XVII, p. 82. 

A true return of the time and service of Captain Eliphalet 
Sawen's company, in Col. Joseph Palmer's Regiment, assembled 
at Braintree, June 14th, 1776. Served four days. 

"Eliphalet Sawen, (^aptain ; Moses Sj)ear, 1st Lieutenant; 
Josepli Tower, '2d Lieutenant; Isaac Thayer, I'aul Thayer, Eben- 
ezer Niles, Lemuel Spear, Sergeants ; Samuel Cheesman, Zebulon 
Howard, Jacob Spear, Joshua Clark, Nathaniel Niles, Corpo- 
rals ; Luther Spear, Drummer ; Phinehas Taft, Fifer ; David 
Slone, Peter Slone, Deering Spear, John Slone, Benjamin Stet- 
son, Gideon Stetson, Richard Thayer, Jos. Payson, John Tliayer, 
Samuel Spear, Isaac Smith, John Wild, James Niles, James 
Tilley, Adonijah French, John Stetson, John Niles, E. Thomas 
French, Simeon IIoAvard, ]>enj. Mann, Reuben Thayer, Arron 
Howard, Jr., Ebenezer White, Benoni Howard, Thomas French, 
Jr., Isaac Niles, Jr., Mathew Pratt, Noah Cheesman, Levi 
Thayer, Jeremiah Thayer, Jr., Oliver Thayer, Isaac Niles, Gideon 
Tower, Eliphalet Thayer."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XXII, p. 188. 

Pay roll of Capt. Isaac Thayer's company, under the command 
of Col. Tlwmas Marshall, from the last day of July to the 1st 
day of Jan. 1777. Served five months. The following Brain- 
tree men enlisted in this company. 

" Isaac Thayer, Captain; Josiah Thayer, 1st Sergeant; Eben- 
ezer Brown, 4th Sergeant ; Abraham Thayei-, 1st Corj)oral ; 
Anthony Hunt, 2d Corj>oral ; Lemuel Clark, ;>d Corporal ; Zenas 
French, Drummer ; Ebenez.er Hayward, Eleazer Beals, Isaac 
Beals, Timothy Thayer, Isaac Hollis, Rufus Thayer, Solomon 
Thayer, Samuel Hayward, Levi Wild, Nathaniel Savil, Ebenezer 
Nightingale, Jeriah Bass, Richard Shaw, Scth Hunt, Jonathan 
Curtis, Reuben Thayer, Caleb Thayer." — Muster liolls. Vol. 
XXV, p. 1)1. 

The balance of this company was made up of persons enlisted 
from Abington and Taunton. The same com])any was also in 
the same service from June 1st to July lUst, 177G, with the 
exception of Caleb Tliayer. — Muster Rolls, Vol. XXV, p. 113. 



MILITAKY. 415 

A muster roll of the iiidepenclent company under command 
of Captain Setli Turner, 1777. Time of service, eiglit mouths, 
two weeks and four days. 

" Seth Turner, Captain ; Seth Baxter, Thomas Newcomb, 
Jacob Wales, Joseph Payson, John Vinton, Jacob Frieze, Benja- 
min Dyer, James Niles, Lemuel Dwelle, Elijah Gurney, Eli 
Spear, Joseph Wales, Nathaniel Arnold, John Ayers, Edward 
W. Baxter, Hopestill Bradley, Moses Brackett, Jr., William 
Brackett, John Briesler, Noah Cheesnuui, Leonard Cleverly, 
Joseph Curtis, Lemuel Clark, Regimelcak Cushing, Samuel 
Clark, Joshua Clark, Ichabod Dyer, Lemuel Field, Timothy 
French, William Foard, Adam Hunt, Ebenezer Hancock, Na- 
thaniel Hayden, Simeon Hollis, Thomas Hayward, Zebulon 
Hayward, Nathaniel Ludden, John Marrain, John Wild, Samuel 
Wild, Abraham Newcomb, Bryant Newcomb, Daniel Nash, 
Moses Nash, Jr., Micajah Newcomb, Peter Newcomb, Benjamin 
--» Payn, William Penniman, Benjamin Richardson, Jacob Spear, 
Jacob Spear, 2d, Rufus Stetson, William Sumner, Benjamin 
Thayer, -Seth Turner, Benjamin Veazey, Daniel White, Jr., 
Noah Whitcomb, Elisha Wild." 

A pay roll of Capt. Joseph Tower's company, in Col. Benja- 
min Gill's Regiment, from Aug. 16th to Dec. 12th, 1777. 

" Eleazer Taft, Lemuel Clark, Sergeants ; John Niles, Ebene- 
zer Thayer, Corporals ; Samuel Belcher, Eleazer Beals, Isaac 
Beals, Benjamin Cheesman, Abel Cheesman, Stephen Cheesman, 
Adouijah French, Jacob Hayden, Nathaniel Hunt, Levi Hayden, 
Benjamin Ludden, Bezor Ludden, Benjamin Nash, Nathaniel 
Pain, Benjamin Pain, Prince Pero, Luther Sj^ear, Samuel Spear, 
Simeon Spear, Alex. Thayer, Calvin Thayer, Timothy Thayer, 
John Thayer, Noah Thayer, Caleb Thayer, David Whitcomb, 
Isaac West."— Muster Rolls, Vol. XXIII, p. 151. 
^ Names of men enlisted into the Continental Army in 177-7, for 
three years, as the quota for Braintree. Those marked thus * ^ 
were non-residents, who were credited to Braintree. 

"Allen Amos,* Ezekiel Averel,* Edward Archer,* Ebenezer 
Brown, Edward Bass, David Burrell, Oliver Blossom,* Joseph 
Blanchard, William Blanchard, William Blanchard,* William 
Brackett, Beza Burrell,* Solomon Bloom,* Edward Burke,* 



416 MILITARY. 

Joseph Benoih,* Joseph Curtis, Jonathan Curtis, Jonathan Clev- 
erly, Paul Clark, Caeser (a negro), Benjamin Dyer, Seth Dut- 
tin,* Michael Dais,* Ichabod Dais,* Tristam Daggett,* Gilleora 

Duror,* William D ,* Ichabod Douty,* Archibald Edmond- 

ston,* Elijah French, Joseph French, Ohay French, Francis 
Fontrey,* James Grandy,* Isaac Hollis, Jonathan Hill, Stephen 
Hayden, Thomas Hayward, Benoni Hayward, Adam Hayward, 
Josei:)h Hayden, Ziba Hayden, Nathaniel Hubbard, William 
Hayden, Cyrus Hayden, Stephen Hollis, Geo. Hudson,* Stephen 
Hollis, Isaac Harder,* Benjamin Jones, Samuel Johnson,* Wil- 
liam Kendall,* John Lovell, William Lynes,* Christopher Lear,* 
John Lelton,* John Letton,* Daniel Lynes,* Louis Langue,* 
Ephraim Milton, Joseph Marshall, Peter Murphy,* John Massey,* 
Pear. Mainard,* Charles ISTewcomb, Joseph Niles, Hugh Paul,* 
Stephen Pratt, Joseph Pray, Daniel Patterson,* John Proctor,* 
Richard Raines,* Thomas Reily,* Samuel Stoddard, Reuben 
Skillings,* Cornelius Stilphin,* John Shaw,* Bartholomew 
Thayer, Joseph Taft, John Thomas,* Nehemiah Vickey,* Wil- 
liam Walker,* Geo. Wheeler, Samuel Wescut,* Peter Waddy.*" 
—Muster Rolls, Vol. XXVII, pp. 81 to 109. 

1777. For some time the citizens of the town had been sus- 
picious that some of its inhabitants were friendly disposed tow- 
ards the parent government, and that there should be no further 
doubt about the matter, called a town meeting, June 9tli, 1777, 
to settle the question which had for some time been agitated, 
and created much feeling in the community. At this meeting 
the Selectmen submitted to the town the names of several peo- 
ple whom they considered Royalists, as follows, — " The Select- 
men present a list to the town, of those persons they esteem 
inimical to the United States, viz :— Rev. Edward Winslow, Maj. 
Ebenezer Miller, John Cheesman, Mr. Joseph Cleverly, James 
Ap thorp, William Veazie, Benjamin Cleverly, Oliver Gay and 
Nedabiah Bent, all which were voted to be persons esteemed 
inimical to the United States. Then the following persons 
were nominated and voted to be added to the aforesaid list of 
persons esteemed inimical to the United States, viz : — Joseph 
Cleverly, E. William Veazie, Jr., Henry Cleverly, and Thomas 
Brackett." 



MILITARY. 417 

The town f\t the same meeting decided to choose some person 
wlio was " firmly attached to the American cause, to procure 
and lay before the Court appointed for the trial of those inimi- 
cal persons, the evidence that may be had of their inimical dis- 
position," and William renniman was unanimously chosen for V 
this purpose. 

Feb. 2d, 1777. The articles of confederation and perpetual 
union between the several States now represented in the Conti- / 
nental Congress, are laid before the town, which are to be dis- 
tinctly and repeatedly read, and mutually considered, whereupon 
it was voted, " that this town do approve of the said Confedera- 
^ tion, excepting the first clause in the ninth article, where the 
United States in Congress assembled have the sole and exclusive 
right and power of determining on peace or war. The town 
proposed this amendment : — 

" The United States in Congress Assembled shall first obtain \ 
the approbation of the Legislative Body of each of the United ) "X. 
StateSy or the major part of them, before they shall determine on 
peace or toarP 

It appears by this action of the town, that Braintree was a 
^ strong advocate of State rights. 

The town being called upon to furnish more men for the 
Continental Army, " Sept. 8th, 1777, selected a committee to use 
their utmost endeavors in the town or elsewhere, to procure a 
sufficient number to make up their quota for the army, if possi- 
ble, and also to indemnify Col. Ebenezer Thayer, ter., from any 
fine that may be imposed upon him in omitting to draft the men 
agreeable to a resolve passed the 15th day of August last." 

It was decided that the committee should consist of six per- 
sons. "Then Deacon Ebenezer Adams, Messrs. Joseph JJaxter, 
^ William Penniman, Capt. Silas Wild, Maj. Seth Turner and 
Lieut. E2)hraim Thayer," be a committee chosen for the purpose. 
Feb. 2d, 1778. "Voted, That the town will make up tlie 
wages of those soldiers who are doing duty at Cambridge, in 
Capt. Silas Wild's company, to six pounds per month from this 
time, including what is or shall be allowed by the Court, pro- 
vided they continue in the service to Aj)ril 1st." 

In 1778, the town voted to allow each laborer on the high- 

64 



418 i\Mi,n".\uY. 

Av;\v (wolvo shillings per day, jiiul tliiit a single ]>oll shall bo 
taxi'il as a day's work, and Marcli 14lh, JT80, the cuneney had 
St) donivciatod that, thoy votod tliat four ])ounds and ton shil- 
lings should 1)0 tho stipond tor ono day's \vi>rk on tho highways. 
April i;5th, 177S. "Tho town votod that tho Soloolnion pro- 
vide the stockings, shoos anil shirts, for tho soldiers as soon as 
possible." 

Juno -'2d, 177S. '••'riio tmvn took into i-onsidoralion the case 
of those j)Orsons who wore tVtun this to\\ n in tho (\)ntinontal 
Borvieo, in tho year 1777, wlio n\arohod out ot" tlio State, and 
that ihort^ l>o a oouiniittoo I'lioscu to take tho matter into oonsiil- 
eration, and rei>ort to tho town at their next annual mooting, of 
what sum those persons are worthy id" for their sutferings. TIumi 

^ C\>1. Thayer, Major IVMuiimau, Captain Kreneh, Captain Arnold 
and Captain iSawon were ehoson." 

A true return of a company of unlit ia under tho command 
i>t' Cajtt. Eliphalot Sawou, in Col. William Alelntosli's Kog- 
iinent, fin- guard in IMassaehnsotts J>ay, in tho service of the 
United States, .Vug. 'Jit h, 1778. Time of service, thirteou days. 
'' Mli[)halet Sawon, Cai)(aiu ; Nathaniel I'^-oucli, Isi Lieuten- 
;uit ; Mphraiui 'IMiayor, '2d Lieutenant; Mnoch llayden, Jona- 
than ^^'ales, Zeba llayden, Solomon Thayer, Sergeants ; Totor 
Niles, Nathaniel Wales, .lan\os Howard, Timothy Thayer, Cor- 
porals; Zona I'^rench, l)runnuer; Mlijah Niles, Fifor; Joshua 

\ Howard, Stephen ronniman, Jonathan Thayer, Moses French, 
John Vinton, Soth l>a\ter, Tliomas IloUis, John Hall, Silas 
llolli.s, Isaac Thayer, Kobort llayden, .lolin llolbrook, Joseph 
Ibackolt, Jonathan Fossondon, Crogory Clark, lloni-y Field, 
JMosos l>rackott, William Adams, Kal[)h Tope, Floa/.or Taft, 
Joseph Adams, San\uol Spear, William Field, William Stephens, 
Flijali In-K'her, .lob l-'ioKI, Isaac llortou, Nathaniel llolhrook, 
.lonalhan Wild, William Thayer, ,lohn (iooch, David llolbrook, 
Jr., n.aniel ^Vild, IMosos Spear, Alexander Kingman, Simeon 
Thayer, William l.intloKl, .lacob (iloyd. Zeba Choesman, Caleb 
White, Kbonozor Fratt, Samuel Helcher,Timothy French, Oecr- 
ing Spear, Samuel Man, l.ouniol \ oasoy, Samuel Curtis, .Vbru- 
ham Thayer, Zeba Th.iyor, Jonathan ^Vrnold, Oliver Thayer." 
—Muster KoUs, \ol. XXI 1, p. -JOt). 



/ 

^rir.TTAUY. 419 

Jan. *i8th, 1770. " Tlie town chose the Seleotnion a conunit- 
.tec to procure grain for the town, antl also instructeil tlieni to 
purcliase one thousaml bushels, if they consider it will be for 
the interest of its inhabitants." 

March 15th, 1779. " Voted, That Dr. ]\h)scs Baker be desired 
to leave the town, also voted, that the eiuht men that Dr. ]>aker 
got a warrant for, go innnediately and deliver themselves up to 
justice." 
V "Voted, That James Penniuian, Kscp, Col. Edmund Hillings, 
Azariah Faxon, Capt. John Vinton and Capt. Peter I>. Adams, 
be a committee to use their influence with proper authority, to 
suppress any vexatious lawsuit, that may be brought by Dr. 
Baker against any of the inhabitants of the town, and that said 
committee shall be allowed for their lime. 

"Messrs. William Penniman and Joseph Spear entered their 
dissent to the last vote as being illegal and imi)roi>er, as there 
was no such an article in the warrant, only on general terms." 

Dr. Moses liaker -was then a jH-acticing physician in the South 
Precinct, now liandolph. 

Even in this war, when the country was struggling for her 
national existence and indejKMidence, the love of money by the y 
citizens of the town w-as paramount to their ardor for patriot- 
ism, as will be seen by the following extract taken from Mrs. 
/(^ Adams' letter to Mr. John Adams, then absent as a member of 
the Continental Congress, on the spirit of, the times: — "I am 
sorry to see a spirit so venal jjrcvailing everywhere ; when our 
men were drawn out for Canada, a very large bounty Avas given 
them, and now another call is made upon ns ; no one will go 
without a large bounty, though only for two months ; and each 
town seems to think its honor engaged in out-bidding the others. 
They draAV out the jiersons most unlikely to go, an<l then are 
obliged to hire men. Forty men are now drafted from this 
town. More than one-half from sixteen to lifty are now in the 
service. If it is necessary to make any more drafts upon us the 
women must reap the harvests. I am willing to do my part ; I ' 
believe I could gather corn and husk it, but I should make a 
poor hand at digging potatoes." 

177U. " The town allouctl to each nou-commissioncd oftieer 



420 MILITAEY. 

or private that in arched to Ticonderoga, Fort George and New 
York, seven pounds and ten shillings for their services, and the 
commissioned officers who went to Canada were paid ten pounds 
for their extraordinary services this year." 

We find the names of the following Braintree men in Luke 
Howell's company, in Col. Nathan Tyler's Regiment, which did 
service in the State of Rhode Island for the month of December, 
1779 :— 

" L. Hayden, Sergeant ; Seth Hunt, Gideon Hunt, Isaac Hunt, 
Nathaniel Hunt, John Hunt, Ebenezer Holbrook, Gideon Stet- 
son, Samuel Ludden, Abraham French." — Muster Rolls, Vol. II, 
p. 114. 

The following Braintree men enlisted in Capt. Nathaniel 
Belcher's company, from the County of Suffolk, raised by an 
order of the Honorable Council, dated August 6th, 1779. Did 
duty on the Castle, under the command of Maj.-Gen. Hancock. 
Time of service, three months, six days. 
*^ " Nathaniel Belcher, Captain ; Richard Belcher, Isaac Smith, 
Joseph Mann, Samuel Porter, one name illegible." — Muster 
Rolls, Vol. XXV, p. 21. 

A true return of the time and service of Capt. Joseph Bax- \ y/^ 
ter's company, of Braintree, in General Lovell's Brigade, who 
marched on an expedition to Rhode Island, in August, 1779, and 
in September, said company was discharged, sixty-nine miles 
from home. Served from Aug. 5th to Sept. 14th, 1779. 

"Joseph Baxter, Captain; Abiah Whitcomb, 1st Lieutenant; 
Zachariah Whiton, 2d Lieutenant ; Nehemiah Whiteman, Ephra- 
im Thayer, Robert Gardiner, Ambrose Bates, Sergeants ; Samuel 
Lovell, Daniel Hayward, Laban Hunt, Aaron Pratt, Corporals ; 
Joseph Adams, Thomas Belcher, Asa Coplin, Sampson Dunbar, 
Job Field, Elijah French, Abraham French, James Hayward, 
Enoch Hayden, Nathaniel Hayden, Nathaniel Hayden, Jr., Ed- 
ward Savil, Jacob Spear, Caleb French, Zachariah Thayer, Silas 
Holbrook, Jonathan Oliver, Laban Pratt, Joshua Pratt, Ariah 
Pratt, Solomon Pratt, Luther White, John White, David Whit- 
man, Samiiel Hunt, Jacob Joy, Thomas Gools, Abel Whiter, 
Thomas Rubbuck, Jonathan Farrar, (illegible) Lane, Levi Lane, 
Thomas Wilder, Robert Wilder, Daniel Wilder, (illegible) Her- 



MILITARY. 421 

sey, Gushing Burr, Reuben Ilearsey, Canterbury Bains, Stephen 
Stoddard, Thom'as Stoddard, Theodore French, Daniel Wilder, 
Timothy Thayer, David Gardiner, George Whiten, Elisha 
Whiten, Cornelius Bates, John Hunt, Eli Lane, Malach Tower, 
James Stodder, Zebulon Willicut, Jacob Lincoln, Charles Burr." 
—Muster Roll, Vol. XVII, p. 193. 

A i^ay roll for the men that were detached from the town of 
Braintree as a reinforcement to the Continental Army, in the 
year 1780, in compliance with the resolves of the General Court. 
Time of service, six months, two days. Discharged 240 miles 
from home. 

"Charles ISTewcomb, Sergeant; Benjamin Pain (matross),^ 
^^hn Lovell, Isaac Hollis, Stephen Pratt, Enoch Ilayden, Nath. 
Hayden, Amos Thayer, Samuel Trask, Jr., William Ilayden, 2d, 
John Savil, Amminidab Hayden, Jos. Arnold, Nath. Belcher, \y 
Jr., Stephen Cheesman, Samuel Hobart, Abraham Tower, Job 
Field, Joshua French, Jr., Elijah Belcher, Jr., Jotham French, 
James Holland, Robert Milton, Samuel Spear, Daniel Hayden, 
Isaac Lufkin, Silas Lovell, Colly Wallis, John Kneeland (raa- 
tross), Peter Blackman, Bryant Newcomb, Lewis Glover, Greg- 
ory Clark, Nathaniel French, John Williams (matross), Thos. 
Hay ward, William Hayden." 

Six months' men raised to reinforce the Continental Army, 
agreeable to two resolves of the General Court, in Jan., 1780. 

"Gregory Clark, Bryant Newcomb, Lewis Glover, Samuel 
Ilobard, Samuel Spear, John Williams, Job Field, Elijah Bel- 
cher, Nathaniel Belcher, .John Savil, Stephen Cheesmen, Abra- 
ham Tower, Isaac Hollis, Peter Blackman, John Kneeland, 
Robert Milton, Benjamin Pain, Joshua French, Isaac Luskins, 
Amminidab Ilayden, Silas Lovell, Jotham French, Stephen 
Pratt, Joseph Arnold, Enoch Ilayden, Amos Thayer, Nathaniel 
Ilayden, William Ilayden, John Savil, Nathaniel French, Daniel 
Ilayden, Samuel Trask, Cornelius (negro), James Holland, 
Thomas Haywood, Charles Newcomb, William Ilayden." — Mus- 
ter Rolls, Vol. XXVII, p. 3. 

1. The term " matross " attached to a person's name denotes that the indi- 
vidual was designated to mount the forts or fortifications on the coast shores, or 
what would now be called heavy artillery. 



422 MILITAKY. 

A pay roll of Capt. Thomas Newcomb's company, in Col. 
Ebenezer Thayer's Regiment of new levies from the County of 
Suffolk, raised for three months, to reinforce the Continental 
Army, 1780. A part of this company was stationed at West 
Point and part at Rhode Island. 

"Thomas Newcomb, Captain ; Edmund Soper, 1st Lieuten- 
ant ; Samuel Horton, 2d Lieutenant ; Jonathan Arnold, William 
Horton, Anthony Hunt, Barnabas Thayer, Samuel Babcock, 
Sergeants; David Ilersej^, Drum Major; Obadiah Hayward, 
Fifer ; William Thayer, Nathaniel Vose, Ebenezer Hunt, Henry 
Field, Ralph Crane, Corporals; Jonathan Cleverly, Gideon Her- 
rick, Matthew Pratt, Francis Newcomb, Zebah Thayer, Peter 
Pratt, Eliphay Thayer, Amasa Penniman, Amasa Thayer, Jacob 
Denton, Seth Hunt, Paul Wild, Luther Thayer, Nathaniel 
Arnold, Ebenezer French, Abner Thayer, Enoch Niles, Joseph 
Crane, Isaac Horton, Charles Whitmarsh, William Pierce, Rob- 
ert Vose, Joseph Tower, Samuel Hunt, Lemuel Hunt, Rufus 
Gulliver, John Burrage, Thomas Vinton, Gideon French, Caleb 
French, Zeany French, James Penniman, James Reed, William 
Henshaw, Lemuel Horton, Henry Crane, Samuel Fenno, Nathan- 
iel Ludden, Jacob Hayden, Timothy Thayer, John Thayer, 
Zebah Thayer, John Lee, Ebenezer Penniman." — Muster Rolls, 
Vol. XXI, p. G5. 

Names of Braintree men raised for three years, or during the 
war, in 1780. 

"John Burridge, John Lee, Henry Field, Wm. Gooch, Isaac 
Thayer, Jr., Matthew Pratt, Jacob Jones, Ziba Hayden, Samuel 
Hunt, Rufus Stetson, Amminidab Hayden, Thomas Brackett, 
Lewis Hayden, Richard Merrett, John Tomlin, Eben Penniman, 
Jr., Jacob Copeland, Nathaniel French, Nath. Hubbard, John 
Niles, Cornwallis Freeman, Samuel Belcher, Enoch Niles, Gideon 
Herrick, Samuel Trask, Jr., Samuel Hubbard, William Ilayden, 
Josiah Faxon, David Arnold, Thomas Hayward, John Williams, 
Gulliver Cato, Rawson Cato, Samuel Jones, Elisha Niles, 
Jopannschard Shallpasse." ^, . 

It will be seen that there were -several negro servants enlisted 
in this company, as it was the custom for principals to enlist 
their servants, to get their wages and bounty. 



MILITARY. 423 

^ Mrs. Adams relates in her letters that " The Continental Cur- / 
rency had depreciated to so great an extent, that all the necessa- 
ries of life were advanced nearly to starvation prices. AVriting 
paper, ten dollars per quire. Linens, twenty dollars per yard. 
Calicoes, thirty and forty dollars per yard. Broadcloths, forty 
pounds per yard. Potatoes, ten dollars per busliel. Corn, thirty 
pounds per bushel. Rye, twenty-seven dollars per bushel. 
Flour, from a hundred and thirty to a hundred and forty pounds 
per hundred. Beef, eight dollars per pound. Mutton, nine. 
Lamb, six, seven and eight. Butter, twelve dollars per pound. 
Cheese, ten dollars jjer pound. Sheep's wool, thirty dollars per 
pound, flax twenty. Sugar, from a hundred and seventy to two 
hundred pounds j^er hundred. Molasses, forty-eight dollars per 
gallon. Tea, ninety. Coffee, twelve. Cotton wool, thirty dol- 
lars per pound. Exchange from seventy to seventy-five, for 
hard money. Labor, eight dollars per day. Board at fifty and 
sixty dollars per week." 

1780. At this time there was a great scarcity of men to go 
into the army, owing to the constant drain made upon the town 
to supply the requisition of the Continental Congress the years 
previous. To meet the present call of the government for more 
fighting material, the town assembled in a public meeting and 
agreed to pay the following large bounty as an inducement for 
men to fill the quota of Braintree, It was agreed to give each 
man one thousand dollars as a bounty, also half a bushel of corn 
for every day from the time they marched to the time they were 
discharged, or were obliged to leave the army, and half a bushel 
of corn for every twenty miles they shall be from home when 
they were discharged, and the town will pay them forty shil- 
lings per month, promised by the State in hard money, if the 
soldiers enable the town to receive the forty shillings from the 
State, unless it will be a greater accommodation to the soldiers 
to receive it from the Commonwealth themselves. Tlie patriot- 
ic General Palmer made the generous gift of one thousand and 
eighty dollars, to be equally divided among thirty-six men who 
would first engage in the six months' service as a reinforcement 
to the Continental Army. For this munificent gift General 
Palmer justly received the thanks of the town. In June of the 



424 MILITARY. 

same year, General Palmer made the same liberal offer to nine 
men to fill the quota of the town, as he did for thirty-six men, 
which was thirty dollars each. 

June 5th, the Hon. Joseph Palmer was chosen a delegate 
from Braintree, by a written ballot, to attend the convention for 
completing the constitution for the formation of a State Govern- 
ment. 

July 17th, 1780, the town made the following agreement with 
the three months' men : — " We whose names are hereunto sub- 
scribed, agree to go into the j)ublic service for three months, 
upon the following conditions : — Provided, the town agree 
thereto, we to receive five hundred dollars currency in hand, half 
a bushel of corn per day or the value thereof in current money, 
at six months from the date hereof, also five hundred dollars 
more on our return, Provided we serve the three months, or in 
proportion to the time of service ; the said last five hundred 
dollars to be increased or diminished according as de^jreciation 
or appreciation shall take place, and to receive the State pay and 
mileage as usual for traveling home. And the town to supply 
the families of such soldiers who are now gone, or are going into 
the army, with money as they may want for the support of their 
families." 

First vote of the town for State oflicers was Sept. 4th, 1780, 
when John Hancock received 95 votes for Governor, and James 
Bowdoin, Esq., 11 for the same office. 

1780. In October of this year the town agreed to raise the 
sum of sixty thousand pounds to pay for beef for the army and 
other town charges. 

Jan. 11th, 1781. "The town assessed ujion the polls and 
estates, seventy thousand pounds, for the purpose of procuring 
beef and other charges. After further consideration, an addi- 
tional amount of one hundred and thirty thousand was decided 
upon, to be assessed on the polls and estates, making in the 
whole, two hundred thousand jjounds for the purpose of engag- 
ing men for the Continental Army, and for purchasing beef, 
and that the Assessors are instructed to use their discretion in 
assessing the above sum between landlord and tenant." 

"All money lent to the town for the purpose of engaging men 



MILITABY. 425 

for the Continental Army, shall be exempted from a town tax. 
The Selectmen and Treasurer arc requested to call on Colonel 
Quincy and ascertam of him Avhetlier he will lend the town a 
sum of hard money, and on what terms. 

" Capt. John Hall was allowed eighteen pounds for a bill lie 
received for taxes, it having proved counterfeit, as he had said. 
Thirty-six pounds was allowed Zebah Hayden for two counter- 
feit sixty dollar bills he received in payment for taxes." 

April 2d, 1781. Capt. Joseph Baxter, one of the town's com- 
mittee, or recruiting agent to engage soldiers for the Continen- 
tal Army, stated that John Williams, the bounty-jumper, had 
agreed to serve as a soldier in the army for three years or during 
the war, and that he had also agreed to serve for the town of 
Boston, and is recorded one of their quota of men for the ai-my, 
and that John Williams did by law belong to the town of Brain- 
tree, and that Joseph Baxter in the behalf of the toAvn of Brain- 
tree, put in his claim for the privilege of securing Williams as 
a soldier for the town of Braintree, but was opposed by the com- 
mittee of Boston, and by them was driven to every extremity to 
have justice done him in obtaining Williams for the town, 
which he finally accomplished. The Boston committee then re- 
quested Mr. Baxter to return to them the fifteen guineas which 
they had paid to Williams as a bounty. Captain Baxter refused 
to comply with their demand and informed the committee he 
would refer the whole matter to the town of Braintree for them 
to take such action as they might deem proper. A public meet- 
ing of the inhabitants was called, and the question submitted to 
tliem whether the Boston committee should be reimbursed for 
the fifteen guineas paid by Boston to Williams, and it Avas de- 
cided in the negative. 

In 1781, the privateer Essex, of twenty guns, Avas fitted out 
at Salem, in which the following' persons from Braintree en- 
listed, viz : — Jol> Field, Lemuel Clark, Samuel Curtis, Edward 
Savil, Josiah Bass, Thomas Vinton, Jas. Bass (colored), Greg- 
ory Clark, Lewis Glover and Bryant NcAvcomb. 

They sailed for the coast of England and Ireland, in hopes of 
securing or capturing rich prizes. After having been fortunate 
in taking one vahiable prize, tliey soon Avere unfortunate enough 
55 



426 MILITARY. 

in having their high hopes blasted by being taken by the British 
ship, Queen Charlotte, of thirty guns, on the east coast of Ire- 
land, June 4th. They were put in irons and transported to 
Portsmouth, England, where they went through the hardships 
of prison life until their release, in 1782. 

Another illustration of the depreciation of the currency will 
be seen by the instructions given by the town to the Collector 
of Taxes, in 1782, as to the basis on Avhich he was to receive the 
Continental money for hard money, Avhich was as follows: — 
" One dollar of the new emission for forty dollars of the old, or 
one dollar in silver for one hundred and twenty in paper." 

The following are some of the receipts for bounty paid for ser- 
vice in the Continental Army : — 

"Boston, Aimllst, 1782. 

Received of Mr. Joseph Spear, 

Chairman of Class No. 11, for the town of Braintree, the sum 
of sixty pounds, lawful money, as a bounty to serve in the Con- 
tinental Army for the term of three years. 

Witness my hand, James Howard. 

"Boston, April 12th, 1782. 

Received of Capt. Joseph Baxter, 

Chairman of Class No. 5, for the town of Braintree, the sum of 

fifty-seven pounds, lawful money, for the term of three years 

service in the Continental Army. 

John Davis. 

"Boston, April 2d, 1782. 

Received of Matiiias Ciiasman, 

Chairman of Class No. — , for the town of Braintree, the sum of 

sixty-nine pounds, lawful money, as a bounty to serve in the 

Continental Army for the term of three years. 

Atest: Gardiner Gould, George West. 

Nathan Smith." — Mass. Arch. 

We have given the names of all the individuals of Braintree 
that we have been able to find who served in the land forces of 
the Revolutionary War. Still we do not claim that we have 
given all of them, as many of the muster rolls have been lost ; 
especially was this the case in the last part of the war. Neither 



MILITARY. 427 

have we given any of those who served in the Navy, such as it 
was, which consisted principally of cruisers or privateers ; as on 
the rolls of enlistments for this service the place of residence 
is not given. We find many Braintree names on the list, such 
as Abel Ilayden, Joseph Bass, Cleverlys, Sanders, Thayers, &c., 
but we should have to conjecture where they were from ; and 
this we do not desire to do. 

The citizens of Braintree had just as much reason to reliel as 
the other towns that went into Shay's Rebellion ; the poverty of 
the times bore as heavily upon her inhabitants as it did upon 
other portions of the State. To relieve her grievances, she took 
the wiser course in adopting peaceable means, instead of the 
sterner method of resorting to open warfare, as will be seen 
was unsuccessfully done in many parts of the Commonwealth. 
To accomplish an amicable solution of her troubles, she called 
a to'^ni meeting, and there drew up and passed a code of reform- 
atory instructions for her Representative to the General Court 
to be governed by.^ 

1. "To Col. Ehenezer Thayer, Sept. 25th, 1786. 

Sir, — This town having made choice of you to represent them in the Great 
and General Court this present year, apprehend it tlieir indispensable duty as 
well as undoubted right to instruct you relative to some very important matters 
which ought to be so far a rule of your political conduct, as we have but just 
immerged from the horrors of a most tedious and unnatural war, and taken 
rank among the Royal Powers of the World, or ever had entered the possession 
of that darling freedom which cost us almost everything that was dear. The 
clouds are gathering over our heads, pregnant with the most gloomy aspect. 
We abhor and detest violent measures. To tly to clubs or arms to divert the 
impending ruin, the consequences of which would render us easy victims to 
foreign and inveterate foes. No, as Loyal subjects and citizens, iutiamed with 
true patriotism we feel ourselves cheerfully willing to lend our aid at all times 
iu supporting the dignity of Government, but inasmuch as there are uujuerous 
grievances or intolerable burthens by some means or other lying on tlie good 
subjects of this republic, our eyes under heaven are upon the Legislature of 
this Commonwealth, and their names will shine brighter in the American 
annals by preserving the invaluable liberties of their own people, than if they 
were to carry the terror of their arms as far as Gibraltar. Wo therefore, under 
these considerations, do instruct you that in the next session you give your 
close attention and use your utmost efforts that the following grievances and 
unnecessary burtlicns be redressed, viz; — 

"1st,— Tliat the public salarys of this Commonwealth, be reduced in an 
equitable manner. We feel ourselves willing that every public ofticer should 



428 MILITAKY. 

The roll of Capt. Elisha Wales' company of militia, in Col. 
Ezra Badlam's Regiment. This company was organized in a 
few hours, at Brackett's Corner, to assist in j^utting down Shay's 
Rebellion,^ and marched from Braintree, Jan. 19th, 1787, and was 
discharged at Northampton, Feb. 22d, of the same year. 

"Elisha "Wales, Captain ; Wm. Allen, 1st Lieutenant ; Daniel 
Baxter, 2d Lieutenant; Benjamin Hay den. Clerk ; Jos. Crane, 
Samuel Allen, Daniel French, Sergeants ; Nathan Tirrell, James 
Penniman, Jonathan French, Abraham Newcomb, Corporals; 
Moses French, Drummer ; Thomas French, Samuel V. Turner, 
Jacob Clark, Silas Pain, Samuel Jones, Dennis Ryan, John Clark, 
Jonathan French, Isaac Hollis, Jos. Kingman, Seba Pain, John 

receive a Quantum Meruit, but not an extravagant salary, and also that the 
number of salary men be reduced. 

"2d, — That the Court of Common Pleas and the General Sessions of the 
Peace be removed in perpetuam rei memoriam. 

" 3d, — That the money raised by import and excise be appropriated to pay 
our foreign debt. 

" 4th, — We are of opinion that there are unreasonable grants made to some of 
the officers of Government. 

" 5th, —We object against the mode adopted for collecting and paying the 
last tax. 

"6th, — We humbly ask that there may be such laws compiled as may crush 
or at least put proper check or restraint on that order of gentlemen denominated 
lawyers, the constitution of whose modern conduct appears to us to tend rather 
to the destruction than the preservation of this Commonwealth. 

" 7th, — That the General Court be removed from Boston. 

"8th,— That Eeal and Personal Estate be a tender for all debts when called 
for, provided the interest be punctually paid. 

" 9th, — That certain premiums be granted to encourage our own manufactures. 

"10th, — That if the above grievances cannot be redressed without a revision 
of the Constitution, in that case for that to take place. 

" 11th, — It is our earnest request that every Town Clerk be a Register of 
Deeds for the same town. 

" The foregoing instructions were read this day in Town Meeting, and the 
town then voted that their Clerk should serve their Representative with a copy 
of the same, and that he record them in the Town Book, and that they be pub- 
lished in the publick print." 

1. Shay's Rebellion, so called, was a sort of a communistic movement, which 
began in 1781, and broke out into active aggression in 1786-7. The familiar cry 
was raised that the rich were increasing their wealth at the expense of the poor. 
The i^redisposing cause of this outbreak was largely owing to the bankrupt 
state of the community at the close of the Revolutionary war. Depreciated 
Continental currency, excessive taxation, the great private and public debts, 



MILITARY. 429 

Bent, Samuel Ripley, Nedy Curtis, Seth Bass, Samuel Savil, 
Abel Hayden, Eliphalet Chandler, Micah Adams, Jonathan Mil- 
ler (who had served in Burgoyne's army), Peter Burrell, Caleb 
Hayden, John Spear, Elisha Hayden, Joseph Curtis, Nathaniel 
Hayden, Abraham Thayer, Benjamin Thayer, Bethner Penni- 
man, John White, James Thayer. The whole amount of the 
company's expense on this expedition was i)155 9s. 4d." — Mass. 
Arch., Vol. CXCII, p. 189. 



QUINCY LIGHT INFANTRY. 



This old and venerated company was incorporated in 1790,^ 
and was celebrated for its high military character. During its 
existence it was called upon to perform escort duty on all public 
occasions. In its ranks, for over half a century, were found 
many of our most influential citizens. The company was first 

and as they considered the unjust method by which legal means were taken for 
the collection of claims. This created a strong prejudice against the Courts, and 
in some of the counties they were closed by the mob. The head of this insur- 
rection was one Daniel Shay, formerly a captain in the Revolutionary service. 
It however was of short duration, as the military of the State, true to the honor 
of the old Commonwealth, soon put it down, a few were killed; a large number 
taken prisoners, some of which were tried and convicted of treason ; "six were 
convicted in Berkshire County, six in Hampshire, one in Worcester, and sub- 
sequently one in Middlesex, all of whom received the sentence of death ; while 
a number of others convicted of seditious words and practices, were variously 
sentenced; one, in particular, a member of the House of Representatives, was 
subjected to the ignominious punishment of sitting on the gallows, with a roj)e 
about his neck, and was finally let off by paying a tine of fifty pounds, and was 
bound to keep the peace for five years." Those desirous of becoming more 
familiar with this important transaction can find an extended account of it in 
Minot's Insurrection, and Holland's Western Massachusetts. 

1. The following is a petition of the citizens of Quincy, for an Infantry 
company : — 

" Jan. 18th, 1700. We, the subscribers, wish for the liberty of forming our- 
selves into an Infantry Company, that when our numbers amount to thirty-six, 
wo may choose our officers, and that it may be augmented to the number of 
forty-eight rank and file including Corporals, on condition it does not reduce 
the other company below what the law requires. AVo agree that when .said 
company is incorporated, we will readily obey the command of our own ollicers 
from time to time, and will be obedient to such other officers as have lawful 



430 MILITARY. 

organized by making choice of Mr. Daniel Baxter as Captain ; 
Peter Brackett, Lieutenant ; John Newcomb, Ensign ; EHphalet 
Chandler, Drummer; Benjamin Cleverly, Fifer, who agreed to 
fife for the company when on regular duty for three shillings 
per day — all other times, gratis. The captain agreed to furnish 
him with a uniform coat, the cloth to cost twelve shillings per 
yard, with the understanding that Mr. Cleverly was to return 
the uniform when he resigned his position. 

At their first meeting they decided, by a vote of the company, 
that no spirituous liquors should be brought to the place of mil- 
itary exercises, and agreed to celebrate " Independence Day" in 
the following complete uniform : — " Blue coats, buff waistcoats 
and breeches, guns all alike, white stockings, half gaiters and 
powdered hair." 

The first time they were called into service was in 1814,^ Sun- 
command over us. That we will equip ourselves suitably for such a company. 
That we will do all in our power to promote good order and discipline, and no 
minor be admitted, without liberty first obtained of those who have the immedi- 
ate care of them." 
Names on the roll at the organization of the company : — 
"Daniel Baxter, Peter Brackett, John Newcomb, John Pray, Ebenezer 
Adams, Jr., Joseph Arnold, Josiah Adams, "William Baxter, Joseph Baxter, 
Joseph Cleverly, Jr., Josiah Bass, Seth Burrell, Edward Curtis, Ebenezer 
Crane, Eliphalet Chandler, Benjamin Cleverly, Daniel Arnold, Thomas 
Adams, Micajah Adams, Anthony Baxter, Elijah Belcher, Jr., Nathaniel 
Blanchard, Seth Bass, Jonathan Bass, John Cleverly, I.«muel Dwelly, James 
Field, Henry F. Gay, John Glover, Henry Hardwick, Frederick Hardwick, 
Nathan Hunt, Adam Hardwick, Charles Hardwick, James Hall, Abel Hayden, 
John Newcomb, Ebenezer Newcomb, Stephen Randall, Loring White, John 
Spear, Hezekiah Bass, Nathaniel Glover, Thomas Crane, Josephus Curtis, 
John Belcher."— Braintree, Feb. 11th, 1790, Company Records. 

1. June 11th, 1814. "This Sunday afternoon, at 5 o'clock, the bells rang an 
alarm. The Quincy Light Infantry Company immediately assembled under 
the command of Lieut. Elisha Thayer, for the purpose of marching to Scituate, 
where two tenders manned with marines, had come into the harbor and set fire 
to the shipping, and returned without further violence. This act of the English 
can hardly be called honorable warfare ; ten vessels, fishing and coasting crafts, 
were lost. On arriving at Hingham, it was found that the enemy had returned 
to their seventy-four gun ship, and they were ordered not to proceed further. 
These bloodless heroes formed a hollow square around a barrel of cider, pre- 
sented to them by the citizens of Hingham, upon which they made a powerful 
aud heroic assault, and it was soon captured." 



MILITARY. 431 

day afternoon, June 11th, when an alarm was given by the ring- 
ing of bells, that the enemy were going to attack Cohasset, but 
instead of that, they entered Scituate Harbor and burned sev- 
eral vessels. In 1812, the town allowed each man detached 
from the military companies one dollar per day when called 
out to do duty, in consequence of such detachment. That 
whenever they shall be called on by proper authorities to march 
to a distance, the town will make up to them the sum of twenty 
dollars per month, including the pay by the government, and to 
deduct one year's interest if paid within two months of date. 

Sept. 12th, 1814. The company under the command of Capt. 
Thomas TirrcU, agreeable to general orders, marched to Boston 
Common, where they reported to the Adjutant-Genei'al, and 
were ordered to South Boston, and went into barracks. They 
remained here without any important event, until Oct. 30th, 
1814, when they broke camp, and began their march for Quincy 
at 12 o'clock, noon, and arrived in town at 3 o'clock, p. m. 

Sunday morning, Nov. 5th, 1814, the company proceeded to 
the First Church for the purpose of a public acknowledgment 
to " Almighty God for preserving them from the perils of war, 
and permitting them to return safely to their homes and fami- 
lies." 

July 18th, 1817. Marched to Roxbury, where they were or- 
dered to do guard duty on the reception of the President of the 
United States. 

1819. Escorted the citizens and Mr. Whitney, orator of the 
day, to the Fii-st Church, after which they partook of a dinner 
at the town house. 

July 4th, 1823. The company celebrated this day by a public 
parade, and marched to the town house, where they enjoyed a 
sumptuous dinner, provided for them by the much-esteemed 
school-master, Mr. Seaver. On this occasion the venerable John 
Adams honored them with his presence. 

July 5th, 1824. The company proceeded to the house of the 
Rev. Peter Whitney, and there received the following gentle- 
men, viz : — Messrs. Whitney, Cutler, Colman, Brooks and Geo. 
W. Adams, Esq. They then marched to the meeting-house of 
the First Church, where an oration was delivered by Mr. Adams. 



432 MILITARY. 

This oration was published. After the services they closed the 
festivities of the day by a dinner at the town hall. 

July 4th, 1826.^ The company assembled at 7 o'clock, and 
proceeded to the house of the Rev. Mr. Whitney, to receive 
their new and elegant standard, provided for them by the la- 
dies of the town at a cost of one hundred and fifty dollars. 
After the remarks of Miss Caroline Whitney on the reception 
of the flag, the company escorted the clergymen of the town 
and Mr. George Whitney, to the First Church, where the Dec- 

1 . "In compliance with the request of several of the ladies of this town , I 
now present to you this Military Standard, for the use of the Quincy Light 
Infantry, confiding that in the possession of so well disciplined and patriotic a 
company it will never be surrendered to a foreign enemy. Be pleased to accept 
it, Sir. Let it be an incentive to you to be always ready in times of peace, and 
your rallying point in the hour of trial. And should you in the course of provi- 
dence he called to contend with an invading foe, you will meet the crisis with 
unshrinking courage, will stand by your country's rights at all hazards, and 
maintain that Independence, which fifty years ago this day was completed, and 
was secured at the expense of so much blood and treasure." 

Ensign Gay, on receiving the standard, made the following reply : — 

" Miss Whitney,— In behalf of the Quincy Light Infantry Company, I tender 
you, and through you to the ladies of Quincy, our warmest acknowledgments 
for this distinguished token of your confidence and liberality. Be assured that 
should we be called to unfurl this standard in defence of our country, our 
rights, our firesides, this, and the recollection of its fair donors, shall rouse us 
to a manful performance of our duty, shall fill our hearts with patriotism, and 
nerve our arms for war." 

This standard was very appropriate in design and execution, and purchased 
for one hundred and fifty dollars, which amount was collected by the ladies of 
the town, and by them piesented to the company on this occasion. On one 
side of it was the national emblem, on the reverse a figure of Minerva, with the 
bust of the venerable ex-President John Adams, and his distinguished son; on 
the background an accurate representation of the mansion of the ex-President. 
Over these patriotic emblems was engraved the following motto : — 
^' Palmam qui meruit fer at." 

At the close of this exercise occurred the most thrilling episode of the day. 
The president of the occasion stated that he held a toast from the venerable 
John Adams, and by permission would present it to them. — " Independence For- 
ever." About fifty minutes after this toast was drank by the assembly, Mr. 
Adams expired, and this patriotic sentiment may be considered among the last 
of this venerated patriot and renowned statesman, to commemorate this fif- 
tieth anniversary of his coimtry's birthday. It must, however, be borne in 
mind that this sentiment was given to Mr. John Whitney, president of the day, 
on the 30th of June, and not on the 4th of July, as many have supposed. 



MILITARY. 433 

laration of Independence was read by the Hon. Thomas Green- 
leaf, and an eloquent oration delivered by Mr. George Whitney. 
Tlie celebration of the day was closed by the usual and custom- 
ary dinner at the town hall. 

July 4th, 1835. This day was celebrated by the company re- 
ceiving the Washington Guards of Hingham, at the Point, and 
proceeding to the Stone Church, where public services were 
held ; after which, they escorted the citizens of the town to the 
Hancock lot, where a dinner had been provided for them under 
a large pavilion. 

March 8th, 1837. This year, for the first time, the company 
voted to engage three pieces of music, other than the customary 
drum and fife, at the coming muster. 

1840. This was a busy year for the company, as public cele- 
brations were quite numerous. The first Avas the celebration of 
the fiftieth anniversary of their organization, which occurred 
April 13th, by a public dinner. Capt. Joseph Bass was chosen 
president of the day, and Ex-Capts. Whitney, Brigham, Glover, 
Hardwick, Gay and others, made sjieeches and offered toasts, 
after which, the past officers made a donation of fifteen dollars 
in aid of the company. 

May 25th. The company performed escort duty for the citi- 
zens of Quincy, who this day celebrated the two hundredth 
anniversary of the incorporation of the town. They proceeded 
to the Universalist Church, from whence the procession took up 
its line of march through Elm, Hancock, Sea and Washington 
streets, to the Stone Temple, accompanied by the Boston Brass 
Band. Prayer by Dr. Lunt ; historical address by the Rev. Geo. 
Whitney, of Roxbury; address to the young men by the Rev. 
John Gregory ; poem by Mr. Pearse Crancli. The Union Sing- 
ing Society furnished them with excellent singing. At half-past 
two, they re-formed, accompanied by several hundred ladies and 
gentlemen, and marched to the Hancock lot, where, under a 
spacious pavilion, a sumptuous repast had been prepared by Mr. 
Daniel French. Hon. Josiah Quincy, president of the day, 
presided over the festivities of the occasion. 

July 4th. The company j)aiaded, this day, for escort duty 
for the Democratic celebration on the Hancock lot, and were 

56 



434 MlLITAEY. 

paid by the party twenty dollars for their services. They assem- 
bled at 9 o'clock, A. M., and proceeded to the Unitarian Church, 
where the procession was formed under the direction of Col. 
Freeman White, as Chief Marshal ; from thence they marched 
over the President's hill (now called Goffe street), accompanied 
by the Dorchester Brass liand, to Dr. Lunt's house, where they 
received the clergymen of the town, then ])roceeded to the 
Stone Temple. The Declaration of Independence was read by 
the Rev. John Gregory; oration delivered by the Hon. Increase 
Sumner; jjrayers by Dr. Lunt and the Rev. Mr. Cornell; sing- 
ing of patriotic songs by the Union Singing Society. The pro- 
cession re-formed at one o'clock, and marched to the Hancock 
lot, where a pavilion had been erected for the occasion, and a 
dinner pi'ovided by Daniel French & Son. About seven hun- 
dred ladies and gentlemen were j^resent, and Mr. Bradford L. 
Wales, of Randolph, presided at the table in his usual happy 
manner. Party S2)irit ran so high in this presidential campaign 
that it created a division in the infantry company, which had 
never been known before to have occurred in its ranks. Many 
of the members resigned, and from this date the dissolution of 
the company may be considered to have began, as it continued 
to dwindle away until 184G, when it expired. 

Sept. 13th, 1845. The company of seven members marched 
to Boston Common for general inspection and review, viz : — 
Capt. George Crane, Lieut. Elislia Packard, Mr. Pope, D. 
Monk, William S. Glover, James T. Penniman. 

Aug. 28th, 184:0. The company, with the Tiger Engine Com- 
pany, paraded for target practice at the Point Holes (so called). 
William Barnard, of the infantry, won the first prize of three 
dollars ; Warren Whicher, of the Tiger, won the second of two 
dollars; the third of one dollar was won by Mr. John Faxon, of 
the Tigers. 

Dec. IGth. This day the property of the Quincy Light Infan- 
try Company was sold at auction. The marquee, tables, benches, 
Indian^ and chest, which had cost about two hundred dollars, 
sold for fifteen. The bass drum, which cost two dollars and 

1. This Indian was the noted target of the Coiuijauy, which had for years 
valiantly withstood the attack of its best shots. 



»riLITART. 435 

sixty-three cents to repair, sold for one dollar and sixty-three 
cents. On the evening of the sale, the remaining members of 
the company met at the Hancock House and received a dividend 
of one dollar and twenty-five cents. They then, on the pro- 
ceeds of the sale, partook of a supper. After relating the many 
pleasant times they had enjoyed in the ranks of the old com- 
pany, they bid it a long farewell. Thus expired the Quincy 
Light Infantry Company, after having been connected with the 
^ Massachusetts military for fifty-six years. 



WAR OF 1812. 



For some years the English Government had been making 
hostile aggression upon the commerce of the United States, by 
sending ships of war to cruise along the shores of the principal 
ports of the United States for the purpose of intercepting Amer- 
ican merchant vessels; capturing and sending them as lawful 
prizes to England. Another grievance and outrage committed 
on our marine service, was the impressment of American sea- 
men into the service of Great Britain. This so exasperated the 
United States, that in June, 1812, the President, by authority 
of Congress, formally proclaimed war against England and all 
her dominions. This war was called the War of 1812, or the 
second war for independence, for the consummation of those 
})rinciples which were supposed to have been decided by the 
War of the Revolution. 

This conflict was very unpopular in the New England States ; 
especially was it so in Massachusetts, she standing squarely on 
the doctrine of State Rights. Governor Strong, then the Fed- 
eral Governor of the State, refused to send troops from the 
Commonwealth for the protection of the United States from 
the invasions of a foreign foe, on the requisition of tlie Presi- 
dent for this purpose ; he believing that the President had no 
authority to call the State troops out of the Commonwealth. 
Still, with all this opposition, many citizens took an active and 
renowned part in this conflict, which was done by voluntary 
action on their part. 



436 MILITARY. 

This war officially ended Dec. 24th, 1814, when both govern- 
ments signed a treaty of peace at Ghent, Belgium, but its rati- 
fication did not reach the United States in time to deprive 
General Jackson of his glory at New Orleans ; which battle was 
fought Jan. 8th, 1815, some days after the signing of the treaty. 
Peace was not proclaimed by the President of the United 
States until Feb. 18th, 1815. 

As the war progressed, the Federal party of New England 
waxed stronger in their opposition to it, and in 1814, called that 
noted Hartford Convention together, for the purpose of seeing 
if some definite action could not be devised to set New England 
off as an independent community from the States; by this means 
she would not be responsible for this unjust war, as she thought. 

The principle having been established by the government of 
the State, that her military could not be called out of it, and 
only could be used for the protection of her own soil, was prob- 
ably the reason why the Light Infantry of this town was only 
called into service twice during this strife ; once at South Bos- 
ton, and the second time, on an alarm that the British were 
landing at Cohasset or Scituate. Capt. Ralph Arnold's Com- 
pany, of Braintree, was also called out on the same occasion. A 
detachment of Captain Arnold's Company was ordered to join 
the Randolph Rifle Company, for guard duty, to protect the 
coast from any further invasions of the enemy. 

The names of the inhabitants of Quincy that served in land 
and naval service of the war of 1812, we are not able to give, as 
the muster rolls are deposited in the United States Archives at 
Washington. The si^ecial tax assessed on the citizens of Quincy, 
to pay the expenses of this war, was more than nine hundred 
dollars. 

The only vessel belonging in Quincy taken by privateers, that 
we have any account of, was the Enterprize. It is somewhat 
singular that this schooner was taken by the people of their own 
State, and carried into Marblehead as a prize.^ 

1. statement of Mr. Brackett, a passenger on board the Enterprize at the 
time of her seizure : — 

July 14th, 1812. 
" J/7'. Russell, — Misstatements having been made of an outrage committed on 



MILITARY. 437 

MEXICAN WAR. 



Texas, formerly a part of Mexico, had by war achieved her 
independence, and sustained it for nine years, being recognized 
as such by several European nations. Under her president, 
Gen, Samuel Houston, she applied, in April, 1844, for annexa- 
tion to the United States. After considerable debate in Con- 
gress, the bill for admission was defeated. Another application 
was made the next year, which proved successful, and Texas 

the coasting schooner Enterprize bj- a Marblehead privateer, and having been 
a passenger on board the Enterprize, I am induced to give the following state- 
ment of facts : — 

"The Enterprize, Hersham, master, sailed from Penobscot as a coaster, with 
firewood in hold, and fish and lumber on deck. On the (Ith of July, inst., in 
Boston Bay, about two miles from Half Way Rock, we fell in with the IMarble- 
head privateer Germantown, Hooper in command, who very valiantly fired at 
and brought us to, and then boarded with a prize-master and eight men armed 
with pistols and cutlasses, in such a rufiian-like manner, as very much fright- 
ened a lady passenger and her child, and whoso ferocious conduct could not be 
restrained by the prize-master, who appeared to be as much of a gentleman as 
the nature of his new profession would admit. This crew examined the 
schooner half an hour, and then ordered us to bear down to the privateer, — the 
captain of which came on board, searched and examined the papers and then 
ordered us to proceed. "We had proceeded about a mile when we were again 
fired at, and the same prize-master and crew boarded us a second time, made a 
bon prize of us, and made sail for Marblehead. A proposition was then made 
to them to conduct us to Quincy, and there to inspect the unloading of the 
schooner, which would save them expense, which they refused, but carried us 
into Marblehead, where the vessel was again examined, the deck load taken off, 
and we delayed nearly two days. They then began to talk of compromise ; 
when, being only a freighter, and being anxious for the release of the lady 
under my care from her fears, I stipulated that they should land the lady and 
child, and my freight in Quincy, free of all expense, and pay me forty dollars 
for the forty hours detention, which they agreed to, fulfilled, and gave me 
what they called an honorable discharge. As the public may wish to know 
who the owners of this privateer is, which is aiding the enemy in making war 
on American property, I give their names, to wit : — Thomas Appleton, AVm. 
Boar, J. H. Gregory, John L. Harris, .T. G. Hooper, S. AV. Phillips, John 
Humphcys, S. Turner, Edward Barry, William Elliott, Richard Brewer, B. 
Robinson, James Topsham, Jr., Ambrose Martin, Lot Martin, David Kings- 
bury, (the last two conducted themselves towards us like gentlemen,) J. C. 
Blackler, T. B. Brown, Benjamin Stevens, Dan. Weid and John Johnson. 
With esteem and regard, your humblo servant, 

James Bkackext, Jr." 



438 MILITARY. 

■was admitted into the Union as a State, Dec. 29th, 1845. Out 
of this grew the Mexican War, which was declared between the 
United States and Mexico, May 11th, 1846. This war was very 
unpopular in the New England States. Notwithstanding the 
war was so obnoxious to a majority of the citizens of Massachu- 
setts, a volunteer regiment was organized under the command 
of Caleb Gushing. In this regiment five persons enlisted from 
this town, viz : — Capt. George Crane,^ Timothy Wiggin, Charles 
Andrews, William Wood and Erastus Prior ; all of whom re- 
turned with the regiment after the close of the war, but in poor 
health. In all the wars, from the Indian, French and the Revo- 
lution in Colonial times, down to the civil conflict between the 
Northern and Southern States, some of the inhabitants of that 
l^art of Old Braintree called Quincy, have taken an active part. 

At the time Quincy became an independent municipality there 
were but two military organizations — the Quincy Light Infantry 
and the militia company. Early in the present century, a cav- 
alry company was organized from her citizens and the neighbor- 
ing towns. This fine independent company was for years the 
pride of the village ; but a short time after the close of the War 
of 1812, the people having had enough of military, lost their 
interest in it, and the horse company was disbanded. The stat- 
ute requiring all persons between certain ages to be enrolled for 
service, together with the rapidly-increasing population of the 
town, obliged them to form another company. To prevent all 
confusion and trouble betAveen them and the other existing or- 
ganizations, the town established Hancock street as the boun- 
dary line between them. All west of it was to be called the 
west and all east of it was to be known as the east company. 
The west was the new company to be organized. This duty 
being obligatory upon them, made the service very obnoxious, 
and was the cause of its formation being delayed for some time, 
by making choice of officers that they knew would not serve ; 
thinking by this means to evade the statute and prevent its per- 
manent organiziation. As an illustration of this point, they 
chose for captain. Rev. Peter Whitney, who they knew would 

1 Ciipt. George Craue had beeu Oaptaiu of the Quincy Light Infantry. 



MILITARY. 439 

not accept ; also, an inmate of tho almshouse was selected for 
the position. Finally, after much time had been spent, in these 
burlesque organizations, they chose Dr. Sanborn, of West Quin- 
cy, as captain, who accepted, but soon resigned his command. 
Mr. Samuel Eaton Brackett, then a young man, Avas then elected 
as first officer, and Mr. Charles P. Tirrell as orderly sergeant. 
Treating being the custom at that time, made the position as 
officers of the company quite burdensome ; especially was this 
the case in Capt. Brackett's time, when the roll numbered three 
hundred. 

Among the commanders of the east company were Captains 
Boylston Adams, Taylor, Drake, Hortou and others. 

These unwieldy bodies of men were very difficult to manage, 
as they had no desire for military duty or exercise, but were 
forced to assemble for inspection. So distasteful was this duty 
to the members of these military organizations, that they Avould 
appear at the place of parade with all manner of costumes and 
accoutrements ; half a dozen guns would answer for the Avhole 
company at inspection, a small corn broom for a brush to keep 
the pan clean, a tamping iron or some other uncouth instrument 
for a priming Avire, mustard seed for ammunition — supposing 
that the inspecting officer did not know the difference between 
powder and this noted condiment. At last, these organizations 
had become such a burlesque on the State military, that they 
were disbanded, which Avas the end of the "Ragamuffin Brigade," 
so called. 

In 1855, or about ten years after the dissolution of the Quincy 
Light Infantry, the Hancock Light Guards Avere formed out of 
a " Know-nothing " organization, called the " Guards of Liberty." 
The Liberty Guards desired to be organized as an indei)endent 
company, but finding that it could not be legally accomplished, 
they concluded to form a company under the military law of 
the State. 

After having received their charter, they completed their or- 
ganization by making choice of tlie following-named persons as 
ofiicers : — Abner B. Packard, Ca])tain ; William S. Glover, 1st 
Lieutenant; William Nash, 2d Lieutenant; Thaddeus H. New- 
comb, 3d Lieutenant ; Franklin Curtis, 4th Lieutenant. Under 



440 MILITARY. 

these competent officers, they became a well-disciplined and 
flourishing company. 

In the civil conflict of 1861, between the North and South, 
Company H, which was the official letter by which the Han- 
cock Light Guards, of Quincy, was regimented, was among the 
first to respond to the call of the Government.^ This company 
was a member of the 4th Regiment, which regiment was under 
the command of Col. Abner B. Packard, who was first captain 
of Company H. On receiving their orders to proceed to For- 
tress Monroe, they took their leave for Boston and rendezvoused 
in Faueuil Hall. After remaining there some twenty-four hours 
or more, the regular officers of the company not appearing, they 
concluded to make choice of a new set, which were as follows : — 

1. The following persons not starred were members of Con>pany H, Fourth 
Regiment, at the time of their departure for the seat of war in 1861. Those 
marked with asterisks subsequently enlisted as recruits, one month later, and 
joined the company at the South : — 

Capt. Franklin Curtis, aged 31; Edward A. Spear, 1st Lieutenant, 44; Benja- 
min F. Meservey, 2d Lieutenant, 23; Charles F. Pray, 1st Sergeant, 27; Mat- 
thew M. C. Chubbuck, Sergeant, 22; John Williams, Sergeant, 23; Robert 
Monk, Sergeant, 21; William H. H. Lapham, Corporal, 20; Thomas Smith, 
Corporal, 23; William S. Wilbur, Corporal, 26; Morton Packard, Corporal, 21; 
Albert Keating, Musician, 20;* Henry F. Barker, 22;*' Benjamin F. Bass, 25;* 
William H. Baxter, 17;* Edward F. Bent, 21;* Luther S. Bent, 30;* James A. 
Brainard (Weymouth), 25; Edwin Brown, 23;* Caleb Brackett, 27; David J. 
Burrell, 29; David T. Chubbuck, 29; Perez Chubbuck, Jr., 26;* George F. 
Cleverly, 28;* Lemuel A. Colburn, 28; Charles H. Crickney, (Braintree), 34; 
James H. Cunningham, 21;* Noah L. Cummiugs, 25; Edward Damon, Jr., 20;* 
James J. Dowd, 23; Joseph S. Enderly, 18;* Lendell H. Ewell, 19;* William 
H. Feltis, 16; Richard H. Fisher, 28;* Daniel F. French, 29; Alonzo Fur- 
uald, 18;* Charles E. Gannet, 21, (Weymouth); George W. Gibson, 19; Na- 
thaniel E. Glover, 25;* George L. Hayden, 24; Charles N. Hunt, 38;* Charles 
H. Jameson, 17; Freeman Joseph, 19;* Robert Josselyn, 18; Edwin L. Joyce, 
25;* Howard M. Kimball, 21; John H. Lamson, 19; Frederick A. Lapham, Jr., 
23; Joseph A. Lapham, 18; John Larkin, 23; Frank M. Marden, 17; Peter P. 
Marque, 33;* Peter Newcomb, 18;* Alonzo A. Nightingale, 19; Samuel A. 
Nightingale, 23; Wyman B. Nightingale, 20;* Charles A. Nutting, 17; Edward 
W. H. Nutting, 20; John Parker, Jr., 20;* Edward L. Perkins, 18; Charles E. 
Pierce, 19;* Eugene C. Philips (Boston), 20; Alexander P. Pope, 20; William 
O. Pope, 19; Hiram B. Prior, 21 ;* William W. Reynolds, 28; Charles D. Riley, 
24; Luke A. Rideout, 23, William W. Robinson, 25; Emerson H. Shaw, 17; 
Christopher A. Spear, 21 ;* Warren Q. Spear, 22; Horace O. Souther, 19;* 
Francis L. Souther, 24;* Freeman M. Totmau, 22; Henry C. Turner, 19; John 
B. Turner, 17; Henry G. Wildmau, 27; William G. Sheen, 22.* 



MILITARY. 441 

Franklin Curtis, Captain ; Edward A. Spear, 1st Lieutenant ; 
Benjamin F. Mcservey, 2d Lieutenant ; Charles F. Pray, Mat- 
tliew M. C. Clmbbuck, John Williams, Robert Monk, Sergeants ; 
William II. II. Lapham, Thomas Smitli, William S. Wilbur, 
Morton Packard, Corporals. 

They proceeded to Fortress Monroe and were placed under 
the command of Col. Dimmock, and a few weeks after, under 
Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. This regiment, with others to the 
number of about four thousand men, was called upon to take a 
part in the first serious conflict of the war. This was at the 
battle of Big Bethel, Virginia, fought June 10th, 1861, under 
Brig.-Gen. E. W. Pierce, of Massachusetts. After several hours 
of fighting, Gen. Pierce Avas obliged to order a retreat. This 
defeat of the Northern troops was attributed to the incapacity 
of the general in command. At this action Francis L. Souther, 
a member of Company H, received mortal wounds, of which he 
died the same day. He was the first soldier killed in the war, 
and was a native of Quincy. Mr. Souther was sent home by 
his comrades, and buried in the Mount Wollaston Cemetery with 
suitable military honors. 

This record of the late civil war has been compiled from the 
war record of the town, made by Mr. Eben. W. Underwood, and 
published by the town in 1866. 

The call for men to go into the army was large and often. 
The increased demand for money to carry it on, created a bur- 
densome tax ujaon her inhabitants and a large town debt, which 
has not, as yet, been fairly wiped out. 

Api-il 16th, 1861, eighty-three persons were ordered for three 
years ; May 3d, the same year, seventy-eight more were called 
into the service for the same time; June 17th, one hundred and 
forty-three more were ordered to serve for the same time ; mak- 
ing the whole number called into the field, the first year, three 
hundred and four (304). 

May 28th, 1862, seventy -five men were ordered for three 
years ; July 4th, one hundred and fourteen were selected for the 
same time ; Aug. 4th, seventy-one more were ordered into the 
army for nine months ; making the total number for 1862, two 
hundred and sixty (260). 

57 



442 



MILITARY. 



July 1st, 1863, the town sent eighteen volunteers to the war; 
July 17th of the same year,^ upon orders from the U. S. Gov- 
ernment, ninety-nine men were drafted for the army. Out of 
this number but four of the principals went to the field of strife 

1. lu 18G3, the government made a requisition on the town for a draft, and 
ninety-nine of her citizens were drafted at Taunton, July 17th, viz : — 

Those marked 1, were accepted and held for service; 2, furnished substitutes; 
3, paid foOO commutation; 4, exempted for disability; 5, exempted as being the 
only son of a widow, or the only son not in service; 7, claimed to be non-resi- 
dents; 8, aliens, or erroneously enrolled ; 9, never reported. 



Abbott, Henry S., 4 
Adams, Harrison T. ,«3 
Armstrong, Patrick, 4 
Badger, Leone C, 1 
Bancroft, Stephen K., 4 
Barnes, Oramel C, 3 
Barker, William P., 4 
\ Bartlett, Edward A., 4 
Bass, Benjamin F., 4 
Baxter, Daniel W., 4 
Baxter, Jonathan, 2d, 3 
Beale, George F., 7 
Beard, George A., 4 
Beckford, Dudley M., 7 
Berry, John F., 1 
Berry, James, 5 
Boyle, Robert, 4 
Brackett, George A., 3 
Burr, James, 4 
Burrell, David J., 2 
Burrell, Winslow, 5 
Cain, Adoniram, 4 
Cain, Lewis H., i) 
Chad wick, John H., 3 
Chubbuck, Henry, 4 



Dell, Lewis, 8 
Douglass, Francis, 2 
Eaton, Horace, 4 
Edwards, James, 3 
Ela, Samuel A., 4 
Ellis, Richard, 8 
Ewell, Charles F., 3 
Ewell, John J., 5 
Faxon, Thomas, 4 
Feltis, Asa W., 4 
Field, George H., 3 
Fletcher, Joseph, 5 
French, Francis W., 4 
French, Lewis L., 2 
Glover, William B., 4 
Hammond, Charles, 8 
Hayden, Bartlett, 4 
Hardy, Benjamin, 9 
Hardwick, Frederick, 4 
Howland, William O., 3 
Howley, Michael J., 4 
Ivers, Timothy, 3 
Johnson, Jonathan, 8 
Kennison, George F., 4 
Kirby, William T., 4 



Chubbuck, William K. , 5 Leahy, Michael, 4 



Conway, Thomas, 8 
Cook, Michael, 8 
Crooker, Andrew, 4 
Cunningham, Jas. H., 4 
Curtis, George, 2d, 4 
Daily, Edward, 4 
Davis, J. Alba, 2 



Newcomb, Harrison G., 4 
Newcomb, Samuel F., 4 
O'Brien, Michael, 2 
O'Niel, James, [) 
Owens, Thomas P., 4 
Patterson, James F., 4 , 
Pennimau, Wm. W., 4v 
Pierce, Chas. F., 4 
Pope, John A. , 4 
Pope, Silas H-, 2 
Pratt, Wesley J., 1 
Preston, Andrew J., 2 
Prior, Paran H., 2 
Putnam, Joseph E., 4 
Heed, Francis L., 3 
Keed, James, 4 
Kideout, James W., 4 
Rogers, Charles A., 4 
Ryder, James E., 2 
Sargent, Walter C, 3 
Saville, John F., 5 
Saville, Charles L., 5 
Sidelinger, Zenas H., 4 
Spear, Samuel H., 4 
Sprague, Phillip S., 4 
Stearns, Levi, Jr., 4 
Tirrell, James E., 2 
Tirrell, Quincy, 3 



Lincoln, Thomas W., 2 
Lombard, Joseph W., 4 

Megerve, William P. F., 4 Walsh, Michael, 5 
Miller, Charles E., 4 Webb, Thomas H., 4 

Nutting, Edward, 4 White, Isaiah, 4 

Newcomb, Benj. L., 3 Whiting, Joseph W. 2d 
Newcomb, Bryant, Jr., 1 Wilbur, Hanibal P., 3 
The following men were drafted May li)th, 18(J4:— 
Baxter, George L., 2d, 4 Crouin, Michael, '.) Hardwick, Frederick, 4 

Brown, Charles H., 3 Cunningham, Jas. H., 4 Johnson, William, 8 



MILITARY. 



443 



for three years, and eleven fumislied substitutes. Oct. 17tli, of 
tJie same year, twenty-nine volunteers M^cre sent for three years 
service. Total number, one huiulred and forty-six (146). 



Owens, Thomas P., 3 
Prescott, William G., 2 
Parker, Chase, 3 
Shortland, Thomas, 4 



Smith, Vernon, 9 
Spear, Albert B., 3 
Thayer, George, 9 



Wliitney, Adams, 3 
White, George, 4 
Wells, John D., 3 



Tlie following persons were drafted June loth, 18(!4, but were not called for 

the Selectmen having furnished substitutes previous to the time of their bein- 
called into service :— ^ 

Adams, . Joseph, Marshall, J. P. C. , Newcomb, C. Otis, 

Faxon, William, Newcomb, Charles F., Owens, John, ' 

Hayden, Arthur L., 

The following list comprises the substitutes furnished to complete the quota 
of Quincy, the parties furnishing them, the organization to which they were 
attached, and their term of service as far as known :— 



Principals. 
Burrell, David J., 
Cahill, George, 
Curtis Noah, 
Davis, J. Alba,* 
Douglass, Francis,* 
Faxon, J. Franklin, 
French, Lewis E.,* 
Gill, George L., 
Lincoln, Thomas W.,* 
Litchfield, Liba, 
Morse, Stephen, Jr., 
Nash, John W., 
O'Brien, Michael,* 
Pope, Silas H.,* 
Pratt, Edwin B., 
Prescott, William G., 
Preston, Andrew J.,* 
Prior, Paran H.,* 
Eyder, James E., 
Sawj-er, Henry M., 
Spear, Horace, 
Tirrell, James E., 
Whicher, John D. , 
Williams, John S., 
Williams, Stedman, 



Substitutes. 
Thomas Molony, 
Michael Fitzgerald, 
John Boy, 



William McKnight, 

Alexander Sproul, • 

John Tool, 
William Mullen, 
John Nash, 



Andrew Murphy, 
Michael Toomy, 



Okganization. 
11th Regiment, 
(iOtli Eegimeut, 
Navy, 



Navy, 



Navy, 
Navy, 



19th Eogimont, 



Time. 
3 years. 
100 days. 
3 years. 
3 years. 
3 years. 

3 years. 

1 year. 
3 years. 
3 years. 

1 year. 

3 years. 
3 years. 



3 years. 
3 years. 
3 years. 
1 year. 
3 years. 
3 years. 



William Schmidt, 

Jefferson Bonn bo, 

John M. Driscoll, Navy, 

John Smith, 

John McCarty, 

George Jones, 

Patrick Scannell, 

* These individuals paid their bounty to the government, who was supposed 
fo have procured substitutes for thorn, and for this reason we are unable to give 
the names of the substitutes. 



444 



MILITAKY. 



Feb. 1st, 1864, twenty-five volunteers were called into the 
field for three years. March 15th, the same year, sixty-four vol- 
unteers were sent for the same length of time. May 19th, six- 
teen men were drafted, out of which number not one of the 
principals went into the army ; six paid three hundred dollars 
commutation, five were exempted for disability, one furnished a 



The following substitutes 


were furnished by the Selectmen : — 




Alsten, Michael, 


2d Regiment, 


3 years. 


Barret, William H., 


3d Regiment, H. A., 


1 year. 


Blaisdell, Lemuel J., 


61st Regiment, 


1 year. 


Brannon, John N., 




1 year. 


Briggs, William H., 


2d Regiment, H. A., 


1 year. 


Dewoody, Mortimer L. , 


Vet. Res. Corps, 


3 years. 


Dolan, John, 


3d Regiment Cavalry, 


1 year. 


Donna van, Timothy, 


Vet. Res. Corps, 


3 years. 


Eccles, John, 


61st Regiment, 


1 year. 


Flaherty, William, 


Vet. Res. Corps, 


3 years. 


Frost, Charles, 


61st Regiment, 


1 year. 


Garrjty, Bernard, 


3d Regiment Cavalry, 


1 year. 


Goldie, Henry F., 


3d Regiment Cavalry, 


1 year. 


Hastings, William, 


4th Battery, 


3 years. 


Hathaway, George B. , 


33d Regiment, 


3 years. 


Hennessy, John, 


Navy, 


3 years. 


Johnson, William, 


2d Regiment, 


3 years. 


Kennedy, James, 


■22d Regiment, 


3 years. 


Kibber, Charles L., 


3d Regiment Cavalry, 


1 year. 


Lincoln, Charles K. , 


3d Regiment Cavalry, 


1 year. 


Linnehan, William, 




1 year. 


Lomar, William, 


2d Regiment, 


3 years. 


Lourney, Dennis, 


Vet. Res. Corps, 


3 years. 


Maley, Melville, 


17th Regiment, 


1 year. 


Malouey, David, 


3d Regiment, H. A., 


1 year. 


McGrath, John, 


ith Battery, 


3 years. 


Mitchell, William, 


2d Regiment, H. A., 


1 year. 


Molly, George, 


2d Regiment Cavalry, 


3 years. 


Mullen, Andrew, 


4th Regiment Cavalry, 


1 year. 


Murphy, James, 


2d Regiment, H. A., 


1 year. 


Murphy, Michael, 


3d Regiment, H. A., 


1 year. 


Noyes, John, 


3d Regiment, H. A., 


1 year. 


Powrigh, Alfred, 


2d Regiment Cavalry, 


3 years. 


Snowden, James, 


33d Regiment, 


3 years. 


Trask, Joseph E., 


29th U. Co., H. A., 


1 year. 



H. Farnam Smith, Esq., and Mrs. Mary J. Quincy each procured rci>re.senta- 
tive recruits, who were credited to the quota of Quincy. The Selectmen pro- 
cured eight others, who nominally represented eight ladies of Quincy. 



MILITARY. 445 

substitute, three never reported — one as an alien, or erroneously 
enrolled. June 15th, seven men were drafted for three years, 
but were not called for, as the Selectmen procured substitutes 
to fill their places. July 6th, seventy-three men w^ere sent into 
the field for one hundred days. July 19th, forty-eight volun- 
teers were dispatched to the anny for one year. Dec. 19th, 
twenty-six men were sent by the town to the war for one year. 
Total number of men called for by the government for the year 
1864, two hundred and fifty-nine (259) ; out of which number 
two hundred and forty-four went into service (244). All sol- 
diers here enumerated were volunteers, excepting those where a 
draft is mentioned. 

Thus it would appear, that during the three years of the war, 
the town was called upon to furnish nine hundred and sixty- 
nine men, and sent by draft and volunteers, nine hundred and 
fifty-four. The balance of fifteen men not procured we are 
not able to account for. 

A large number of the citizens of Quincy who entered the 
army were honored with commissions, as follows, viz. : — 

Colonels, — Abner B. Packard, July 10th, 1857, who received 
his commission before the Avar, but A\'ith his regiment (the 4tli) 
was called into the field at the breaking out of it; Henry 
"Walker, Dec. 6th, 1862; Charles Francis Adams, Jr., Feb. 15th, 
1865. 

Lieutenant-Colonels, — Henry Walker, April 30th, 1862 ; Chas. 
F. Adams, Jr., July 15th, 1864. 

Majors,— Luther S. Bent, July 29th, 1864, (U. S. Volunteers 
by Brevet, Sept. 30th, 1864) ; William G. Sheen, (U. S. Volun- 
teers by Brevet, April 1st, 1865) ; Benjamin F. Meservey, (U. 
S. Volunteers by Brevet, April 1st, 1865.) 

Surgeons, — Henry M. Saville, July 11th, 1857 ; Edward Rus- 
sell, Feb., 1863 ; Wm. L. Faxon, Aug. 25th, 1863. 

Assistant Surgeons, — William L. Faxon, April 16tli, 1801 ; 
Geo. L. Smalley, July, 1862 ; Edward Russell, July 29th, 1802 ; 
Edward Russell (of Cavalry), Feb. 3d, 1864; John F. Saville, 
Dec. 5th, 1864; John F. Saville (of Cavalry), June 26th, 1865, 

Captains, — Franklin Curtis, April 17th, 1861; Edward A. 
Spear, Aug. 14th, 1862; Charles N. Hunt, Aug. 22d, 1862; Ben- 



446 MILITARY. 

jamiii F. Meservey, Oct. 24tli, 1862 ; Charles F. Adams, .Jr., Oct. 
30tli, 1862 ; Otis Rogers, Dec. 29th, 1862 ; Charles M. Sampson, 
April 16th, 1863 ; Charles F. Pray, Oct. 15th, 1863 ; Luther S. 
Bent, Dec. 24th, 1863; Joseph W. Morton, Jan. 5th, 1864; F. 
Edward Bent, July 14th, 1864 ; Wm. G. Sheen, Sept, 8th, 1864; 
Chas. H. Porter, Sept. 8th, 1864. 

Adjutant,— Henry Walker, April 2d, 1861. 

First Jjieutenants, — Edward A. Spear, April 17th, 1861 ; Ben- 
jamin F. Meservey, Aug. 20th, 1861 ; Otis Rogers, Oct. 8th, 
1861 ; Charles F. Adams, Jr., Dec. 19th, 1861 ; Wm. G. Sheen, 
Aug. 14th, 1862; George W. Gibson, Sept. 2d, 1862;. Joseph 
W. Morton, Sept. 10th, 1862 ; Charles F. Pray, Nov. 1st, 1862 ; 
David T. Chubbuck, Dec. 21st, 1862 ; Luther S. Bent, Dec. 25th, 
1862; William E. Rudderhara, Jan. 15th, 1863; Charles IL Por- 
ter, Jan. 25th, 1863; John A. Pratt, Jan. 15th, 1864 ; Joseph E. 
Spear, March lltli, 1864; William H. Follett, March 11th, 
1864; William F. Tanzy, March, 1864; Warren W. Adams, 
July 14th, 1864; Daniel F. French, Aug. 7th, 1864 ; Charles E. 
Pierce, Sept. 2d, 1864; Geo. A. Barker, Sept. 8th, 1864; John 
W. Martin, Nov. 14th, 1864 ; Charles N. Perkins, April 3d, 
1865; F.Edward Bent, April 17th, 1865; Charles L. Nightin- 
gale, May 6th, 1865. 

Second Lieutenants, — Benj, F. Meservey, April 17tli, 1861 ; 
Joseph W. Morton, Feb. 20th, 1862; Charles F. Pray, April 3d, 
1862; David T. Chubbuck, July 1st, 1862; George W. Gibson, 
July 29th, 1862 ; Luther S.Bent, July 30th, 1862; William G. 
Sheen, July 31st, 1862 ; Charles IL Porter, Aug. 14th, 1862 ; 
Wm. H. Follett, Oct. 12th, 1862; Joseph E. Spear, Oct. 18th, 
1862 ; Thaddeus II. Newcomb, Oct. 22d, 1862 ; Horace A. Der- 
ry, Jan. 6th, 1863; William Boyd, May 16th, 1863; Thaddeus 
Churchill, Oct. 5th, 1863; Daniel F. French, April 26th, 1864; 
George A. Barker, May 4th, 1864 ; Albert Keating, July 14th, 
1864; Wm. Q. Baxter, Sept. 2d, 1864; Jonas Shackley, Sept. 
2d, 1864; Charles N. Perkins, Sept. 8th, 1864 ; F. Edward Bent, 
Feb. 28th, 1865 ; John Parker, Jr., March 7th, 1865. 

Acting Assistant Paymasters in the Navy, — Geo. W. Morton, 
Sept. 25th, 1861 ; Samuel Thomas, Jr., Aug. 4th, 1863 ; Henry 
Lunt, Aug. 31st, 1864. 



MILITAKY, 447 

Ensigns in the Navy, — Alonzo Elwell, March, lS63 ; William 
II. Elwell, Aug., 186.S ; K. Warren Ehvcll, Aug., ISO.S. 

The. number of deaths by being killed, wounded and other 
casualties, during the war, Avas one hundred and five, constitu- 
ting about one-ninth of the wliole number sent into the field.^ 

1. Deaths of soldiers wlio went to the late war from Quiucy:— 

Killed in battle or who died of wounds,— Francis L. Souther, June 10th, ISfil ; 
John McGoveru, Oct. 21st, 1801 (missing, supposed to have been killed); James 
Eyan, March 14th, 1862; Patrick Dermody, July 11th, 18()2; Peter P. Marque, 
Aug. 30th, 1862 (missing, supposed to liave been killed); Samuel S. Pierce, Aug. 
30th, 18G2; Henry A. Holden, Sept. 3d, 1862; Horatio N. Faxon, Sept. 17th, 
18G2; Luther M. Bent, Oct. 1st, 1802; Loring Bigelow, Oct. ISth, 1802; I^muel 
A. Colburn, Nov. 11th, 1802; Charles W. Carver, Nov. 20th, 1802; Francis L. 
Nott, Jan. 1st, 1803; Henry F. Packard, Jan. 3d, 18()3; John Manning, Dec. 
13th, 1802; Ptichard Lawless, Dec. lOtli, 1802; Garrett Fleming, June 30th, 1803; 
Joseph Flynn, May 5th, 1804; George Wyman, May 5th, 1804; John Dag, May 
6th, 1864; Elisha T. C. Ela, May 8th, 1804 (missing, supposed to have been 
killed); Michael McGlone, May 12th, 1804; James Hughes, May 13th, 1864; 
James Kelly, May 19th, 1864; Timothy Sheahan, "May 19th, 1864; Noah L. 
Cummings, May 26th, 1864; Charles F. Pray, June 3d, 1864; James Chubbuck, 
June 3d, 1864; "William H. H. Lapham, June 3d, 1804; Edwin L. Joyce, June 
10th, 1864; George W. Turner, June 18th, 1804; Thos. Wood, June lUth, 1804; 
Osmaud Bennett, June, 1804; Matthew Keenau, July 30th, 1804 (missing, sup- 
posed to have been killed); George W. Basley, Aug. 5th, 1804; John Horgan, 
Aug. 17th, 1804; Joseph M. Luzarder, Aug. 18th, 18i)4; John P. Brown, Oct. 
19th, 1804; James Douley, Feb. Gth, 1805. Whole number, 39. 

Died in Prison, — 1804 — Arthur Dunn, Jan. 28th; Samuel N. Perry, March 
3Ist; John Kelly, July 25th ; John Cronin, Sept. 1st; Freeman M. Totnian, 
Oct. 7th; Bryant Newcomb, Jr., Oct. 21st; Wm. H. Burns, Nov. 27th; George 
W. Savil, Dec. 5th; Henry A. Newcomb, Dec. 23d; Thos. W. McGaun, Dec. 
24th; 1805— Edward Damon, Jr., Jan. 3d; Michael Feuton (unknown); Wm. 
F. Thayer (unknown); Jonathan C. Durgin, Jan. 5th; Charles C. Dickerman, 
Jan. 25th; William E. Colburn, Feb. 18th; Vernon Smith, March 9th; Timothy 
Conlin, July. Whole number, 18. 

Drowned,— 1864— William O. Pope, Jan. 23d; 1805— Chas. F. Leavitt, Jan.; 
Wm. F. Tanzy, Oct. 14th. Whole number, 3. 

Died of Disease, — 1802— Dennis Moriarty, Feb. 17th; Richard B. Hayden, 
April lOth; Wm. Jones, April 19th; Leonard B. Harrington, May 22d; Henry 
Trask, June 3d; George F. Lapham, July 27th; John Kehoe, Aug.; Ezra Bad- 
ger, Oct. 14th ; Edward J. Gib.son, Oct. 21st; George L. Smalley, Nov. 23d; 
Lorenzo D. Parker, Dec. 17th; 1803— Michael Enright, Jan. 11th; George Star- 
buck, Feb. 24th; ObedF. Allen, March 21st; William Flynn, May ;kl; Uriel 
Joseph, July 7th; Francis G. Chubbuck, Oct. 2d; Cliarles D. Piiloy, Nov. 19th; 
Setli Crane, Dec. 22d; lS(i4 — Greenleaf P. Foster, March 3d; William Sheahan, 
March 2(ith; Josiah N. Jvittredge, A])ril 23d; George Burns, June 27tli; Ebeu- 
ezer F. Cleverly, July 22d ; Frederick Fletcher, Aug. 24th ; David W. liate^. 



448 MILITARY. 

The expenses incurred to the town of Quincy for this wfir 
were as follows : — Amount paid for bounties, |i84,()o2.50 ; amount 
subscribed by her citizens, 112,651.63 ; expense of recruiting, 
transportation tof recruits, Avar records, meetings and extra ser- 
vices of the town officers, $1,627.98 ; making a total amount of 
$48,912.11. 

A lot Avas selected in the Mount Wollaston Cemetery for the 
soldiers' graves, Avhich has been adorned by a fine monument of 
Quincy granite, thirty-four feet, three inches high, and Aveigh- 
iug thirty-five tons; a fitting tribute to the i)atriotic dead. This 
monument was erected at an expense to the town of 11,691.18, 
and Avas dedicated June 25th, 1868, Avith suitable and appropri- 
ate services. 



McCLELLAN GUARDS. 



After the close of the late civil Avar, between the North and 
South, the adopted citizens of Quincy organized a military com- 
pany, Avhich Avas called the McOlellan Guards. 

This company selected for its first officers, William Boyd, 
Ca}>tain ; James Lycett, 1st Lieutenant ; Martin Ileatherson, 2d 
Lieutenant. LTnder these competent ofiicers, the company soon 
took a high rank for their efficiency in military exercises. For 
their excellency in regimental drill they had the honor of receiv- 
ing tAVO prizes, as the most thoroughly-disciplined company in 
the 4th Regiment. In 1873, the company disbanded, for the 
Avant of financial encouragement, and also, not having a sufii- 

Sept. 9th ; Michael J. Howley, Sept. 23d ; William Price, Oct. 14th ; Morton 
Packard, Oct. 20th; Theodove H. Lunt, Oct. '-'.Sd; Henry T. Packard, Dec. 17th; 
1SG5 — Erasmus Thomas, JNIarch 14th; Eli Pierce, April 3d; Beuj. P. Pierce, 
July Kith. AA'holo number, ;;i. 

The following have died of di.soaso, contracted while in the army, after being 
discharged :— 

1SG2 — Charles E. Messer; l.S()3 — Isaac T. Newcomb, April 1st; Garrett Daily, 
April 5th; 1S(!4 — JNlichael Manning, May 14th; Henry C. AA'hito, Aug. 3d; Ed- 
ward L. Perkins, Sept. 10th; Charles (!. Duggan, Dec. 20th; 18(jri— AVilliaiu 
Buchan, Feb. 2tith;. John McCiaun, Aug. 3d; Samuel A. Nightingale, Aug. 
20th; Joseph AA'illiam .Morton, Dec. 17th. 



MILITAJiY, 449 

cient number in their ranks to comply with the change made in 
the military statute of the State. 

There is not, at the present time, a military company in Nor- 
folk County, and we believe that the McClellan Guards was the 
last company disbanded, of the many line military organizations 
that have existed in this County. 



Since that part of the military history of Quincy which relates 
to the War of 1812 was printed, tlie author has obtained from 
Horatio Woodman, Esq., pension agent, the roll of Capt. Thos. 
Tirrell's compauy of militia, which served about thirty days, in 
September and October, 1814. 

Thomas Tirrell, Captain; Elihu Thayer, Lieutenant; John 
Whitney, Ensign ; Elisha Marsh, Josiah Glover, James Green, 
Benjamin Page, Sergeants; Josiah Brigham, William James, 
John Savil, George Nightingale, Corporals; Eliphalet Chandler, 
William Wheeler, John Talbot, William A. Field, Musicians ; 
Joseph Arnold, Joseph Burrell, Seth Burrell, 2d, William Bel- 
cher, Charles Chandler, Jonathan Cook, Lewis Cleverly, Benj. 
Gray, Elisha Glover, Solomon Nightingale, John Newcomb, 
John Osborn, James Pratt, James Pray, Peter Pray, Henry Put- 
nam, Daniel B. Spear, Lutlier Spear, George Tirrell, Stephen 
Veazie, Thomas White, Samuel ILiyden, 2d, Nathaniel Dexter, 
Ezra Damon, Joseph Wales, Josiah Adams, Solomon Ilayden, 
Ebenezer Chandler. 



68 



IRON WOEKS. 



The first attempt to establish a manufacturing industry in 
Braintree was as early as 1643, or three years after the town 
was incorporated, but for the want of funds it was not com- 
pleted until two or three years after. Mr. John Winthrop came 
to the Colony with one thousand pounds in money, and workmen 
for the purpose of establishing the . manufacture of iron ware, 
which was needful for the use of the Colonies. The first impor- 
tant action that we find taken on the subject, was by the town 
of Boston, who took a great and lively interest in the success of 
this important enterprise. The citizens of the town called a 
public meeting on the 19th of Jan., 1643, and there, after con- 
siderable debate, granted to John Winthrop, Jr., three thousand 
acres of land, viz : — 

"There is granted unto John Winthrop, Jr., and his partners, 
and to their heyrs and assigns forever, three thousand acres of 
the common land of Braintry, for the encouragement of an iron 
work, to be set up about Monaticot River. The said three thou- 
sand acres to be layed out in the land next adjoyning and most 
convenient for their said iron works, by the direction of the 
Select Townsmen." It is said that this estate reverted back to 
Boston by breach of contract. 

In 1711, Manassah Tucker, John Wadsworth and Samuel 
Miller, of the town of Milton, purchased this tract, which at 
that time was supj^osed to have been in that tovvn.^ On sur- 
veying it, a large part of this territory was found to be within 
the limits of Braintree. Milton and Braintree could not ajrree 
as to the jurisdiction of the land, and to definitely settle the 
question, it was referred to the General Court by the two towns 

1. See address of Mr. James M. Robbius, delivered before the citizens of the 
towu of Milton ou the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of that 
town. 18(52. Page 37. 



IRON WORKS. 451 

for a decision,* The Court, after a full hearing, decided that 
fifteen hundred, or one-half of the three thousand acres, be- 
longed to Braintree, which was accepted as final. 

These lands were called the Blue Hill lands, and were sold by 

1. " The humble petition of the town of iMilton within tlie said Province. 
"Showeth,— That whereas they have lately with a great snm of money pur- 
chased of the Town of Boston, a great Tract of Land containing about three 
thousand acres of land called by the name of the Blue Hill Lands, bounded, 
upon Milton Line, northerly by Dorchester Land, westerly by land called Mr. 
Hully's, Easterly by Monotocot River, easterly* and whereas the Tract of land 
is a part contained within the Township of Braintry, your petitioners most 
humbly prny the favour of this great and General Assembly, to annex the same 
to, and make it part of the Township of Milton, to which end the said town of 
Milton humbly pray your Excellency and Honor to consider, for the following 
reasons: — 

" That the situation of the land is some miles nearer to Milton than any other 
Town, the greater or best part of it lying within a mile and a half of the Milton 
meeting-house. 

" The poor circumstances of Milton, and the straitness of their Township is 
such, that they are under great difficulties and discouragement in the discharge 
of the public charges, and this addition would very much enable and encourage 
them to cheerfulness in their public affairs. 

"Whoever they are who shall inhabit and improve the.se lands, must of 
necessity attend the public worship in Milton it being so near, and their chil- 
dren also may conveniently have the benefit of schooling in said Town, and 
cannot have it in any other Town. 

" The inhabitants of said place must cart and transport their wood, hay and 
other matters through the town, and soon get to be of some advantage as well 
as a burthen. 

" The said Town as is above said have purchased it, upon which account it is 
most equitable they should have the jurisdiction who have the property; unless 
any great inconvenience to the contrary, which cannot be pretended ; all which 
whatsoever else your poor petitioners have to offer, being considered by the wis- 
dom and justice of Honorable Court, they humbly hope they may obtain the 
favour of granting their rights, which shall be most thankfully acknowledged 
by the Town. To your Excellency and Honor, Henry Vose, Manassah Tucker, 
John "Wardsworth, a committee in behalf of the Town, March 14, 1711. 

" The answer of the Town of Braintry to the Petition of the Town of Milton: 
"And whereas the Petitioners say they have lately with a great sum of 
money purchased of the Town of Boston a great tract of land containing about 
three thousand acres, called by the name of the Blue Hill Lands, bounded, &c., 
which said tract of land the petitioners own is contained within the township 
of Braintry, but most humbly pray the favour of the Great and General Court 
to annex the same to, and make it a part of the Township of Milton, for which 
they offer several reasons to consideration. 

♦There appears to bo some mistake here, but we have given it as wo found it. 



452 IRON WORKS. 

a committee of the town of Braintree, at public sale, with the 
other common lands, in 1765. 

Another version of the disposition of these lands is to be 
found in Vinton's Memorial, page 471, and is most probably the 
correct one : — 

"Dec. 7th, 1682. Capt. Ephraim Savage, shopkeeper, of Bos- 
ton, and Sarah, his wife, for £500 current money of New Eng- 
land, sell John Hubbard, of Boston, merchant, 2400 acres of land 

" And whereas the Petitioners say iu the Preamble to their petition that they 
have lately purchased, &c. 

" 1st. The Respondents answer, That it was purchased by some few of the 
inhabitants of the town of Milton, as private persons, and not by the Town of 
Milton. 

" 2d. That the greater the Tract of Land is, the more unreasonable it is that 
the Petition should be granted. 

"3d. First Reason That the scituation of said land is (as they say) by some 
miles nearer to Milton than any other Town, the greater and best part of it 
lying within a mile and a half of the Milton meeting-house. 

"The Respondents, answer That the matter alleged in this reason is by no 
means true. But if they had said it was nearer to Milton than any other town, 
excep Braintree, it had been well enough for that purpose; the best part may 
ly near Milton, yet the far greater part of the land lie nearest Braintree. 

" As to their 2d Reason, The Respondents answer. That the Township of 
Braintree being lately divided into two Precincts, are under as great, if not 
greater, difficulties and discouragements than the Town of Milton can pretend 
to be. No doubt but the addition they pleaded for, would enable and encourage 
them &c., so it would encourage and enable the Respondents if such a part of 
the Town of Dorchester or Milton were added to their Township, but believe 
the Great and General Court will not judge it reasonable, so have not yet 
Petitioned for it. 

" As to their third reason, the truth of which is therein asserted, depending 
upon the first which is not true, it must fall with it, but supposing it may be 
true with to some few particulars, it is but the common misfortune of some few 
private persons iu all Towns whatsoever. As to the Fourth Reason, The 
Respondents say, admitting the matter therein contained to be true, yet it is but 
a common kindness, and the Town of Milton do now pass through Braintree 
to go to the salt meadows. As to the fifth reason, it is answered already iu the 
answer to the first, in the preamble, in part as to what remains the Respondents 
cannot for the reasonableness of it, That they who have the property, should 
have the jurisdiction, for as much as that would alter the constitution of most 
Towns in the Province. All which with what else may appear your Respond- 
ents humbly hope this great and General Court will see full cause to dismiss the 
said Petition.— Edmund Quincy, John Cleverly, Neamiah Haydcn, Peter 
Adams, Committee in behalf of the Town of Braintree."— Mass. Arch., ^'ol. 
CXIU, pp. 592—595. 



IRON -WOKKS. 453 

in Brantery, commonly called Iron Works Land, and is jjart of 
that 3000 acres formerly granted by the town of Boston to the 
company of the Iron Works, according to a plot thereof drawn 
and signed by the Selectmen of Boston, bounded east on land 
of Capt. John Holbrook, (which was part of said land) ; west 
on Boston Common Lands ; North, part on Manaticut River, 
part on land of John Hull, Esq. ; South, on Boston Commons." 
The General Court, on the 7th of March, 1643-4, granted the 
undertakers the monopoly of manufacturing iron within the 
jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Colony, for twenty-one years, 
providing that in two years they would fabricate a sufficient 
quantity to supply the Colony. 

As soon as suitable arrangements could be made, the follow- 
ing gentlemen were organized as the company, viz : — 

Lionel Copeley, Esq., of York County, England ; Nicholas 
Bond, Esq., of Westminster, England; Thomas Pury, Esq., of 
Westminster, England ; John Bex, merchant, London ; Wil- 
liam Beauchamp, merchant, London; Thomas Foley, gentleman, 
London ; William Greenhill, Stepney, County of Middlesex ; 
Thos. Weld, minister, Gateshead, Durham ; John Pococke, mer- 
chant tailor, London; William Beeke, merchant tailor, London; 
Wm. Hicock, citizen, London ; Mr. Winthrop, Jr., Henry Webb 
and others of this country, were added. These gentlemen estab- 
lished iron works at Lynn and Braintrce. 

After the establishment of the furnaces and forges, they seem 
to have been in a prosperous condition up to 1645, when they 
issued the following document, Avhich sounds very much like 
incorporations of the present day, who desire to water their 
stock, by issuing loud-sounding circulars to inform the commu- 
nity of the great importance to those who would subscribe to 
the stock of the com])any and become rich; as it appears to us 
it was the case in this instance, we give their own statement, 
which will better illustrate the subject, viz : — 

" Whereas, it is now found by sufficient })roof that the iron 
work is very successful, both in the richness of the ore and the 
goodness of the iron, and like to be of great benefit to the whole 
country, especially if the inhabitants here should be interested 
therein in some good proportion, — one-half at the least; and 



454 IRON" WORKS. 

whereas the time limited for adventurers to come in will be 
expired in the ninth month (November) next, this court taking 
the same into serious consideration, and being careful that such 
an opportunity for so great advantage to the Commonwealth 
might not be let slip, have taken orders that speedy notice 
thereof should be given to every town within this jurisdiction; 
expecting that all such persons as are of sufficient ability, and 
intend their own benefit with the common good, will forthwith 
appear to come in to share in the work, according to their abili- 
ties ; and for their better instruction and direction herein, they 
are hereby to understand that there is already disbursed between 
£1200 and £1500, with which the Furnace is built, with that 
which belonged to it, and good quantity of Mine, Coal and wood 
provided, and some tons of sow iron cast, and some other things 
in readiness for the forge, etc. They are also to know that no 
adventurer is to put in less than £100 ; but divers may join 
together to make up that sura, so it come all under one name. 
There will be need of some £1500 to finish the forge, &c., which 
will be accepted in money, beaver, wheat, coals, or any such 
commodities as will satisfy the workmen, and these are to be 
paid in to Mr. Henry Webb of Boston, by such direction as 
they may receive from the undertakers, Mr. John Winthrop, Jr., 
Major Sedgwick, Mr. Henry Webb, aforesaid, and Mr. Joshua 
Hewes. The ncAv adventurers are also to know that they must 
bear their j^art in such loss as is befallen the first stock, by for- 
bearance or otherwise, to the time of the new adventurers pay- 
ing in their adventures ; and all such as will venture are desired 
to hasten their resolutions, that the work may go on speedily." 
— Mass. Archives, Vol. LIX, p. IG ; Colony Records, Vol. U, 
p. 103. 

A few months after, they received their charter from the 
court, granting them a monopoly and all the privileges they de- 
sired.^ This, like many other early enterprises in the Colonies, 
struggled on with varied success until about 1653, when they 
became so embarrassed as to be obliged to give up the under- 

]. The following is a copy of the charter granted the Iron Works: — 
" At a session of the General Court, the first of the 8th month, 1645, Inprimis, 
that the uudertakers, their agents and assigues, are hereby granted the sol 



IRON WORKS. 455 

taking as utterly bankrupt.. The contemporary writers of that 
dny give an account of this unfortunate project. Johnson, in 
his Wonder-working Providence, written in 1G52, makes the fol- 
lowing mention of them : — "The land affording very good iron 
stone, divers persons of good rank and quality in England, were 
stirred up by the provident hand of the Lord to venture their 
estate upon a iron work which they began at Braintree," etc. 
He further says, that the operations of the forge were not at- 

privilege and benefit of making iron, and managing of all iron mines and 
workes, that now are or shalbe discovered and found out, or hereafter shalbe 
in this iurisdiction, for thetearme of twentj'-one yeares from the former graunt; 
provided, that the said adventurers, their agents or assignes, do, within three 
years fro' the former date, use their bestendeavo' to their utmost skill to perfect 
80 many of the said workes that the inhabitants of this iurisdiction be furnished 
with barr iron of all sorts for their use, not exceeding twentye pounds per tunn ; 
provided also, that it shalbe in the liberty of any within this iurisdiction to be 
adventurers with the undertakers, if by the last day of this October, they being 
in their adventures, not lesse, in one mans name, then fifty pounds with 
alowance to the adventurers for the stock of one thousand pounds by them 
already disbursed. 

" 2d. The court doth hereby grant to the said undertakers, their agents and 
assignes, in all places of wasts and lands not impropriated to any towno or 
person, that the said undertakers, their agents or assigues, at all times during 
the said tearnie of 21 yeares, shall and may, freely and at their own discretion, 
have and take all manner of wood and limber, to be converted into coales, or 
any other uses for the service of the undertakers, as also all manner of earth, 
stoanes, turfe, clay and other materialls for buildings and reparation of any 
of their workes, forges, mills, or houses, built or to be built, or for making or 
moulding any manner of gunns, potts and all other cast iron ware; and for con- 
verting wood into charcoale; and also to get, dig and carry away, of all manner 
of stone, iron ore and wood of all sorts, and any other materialls or things of 
use for their workes, and it is hereby also granted to the said undertakers , their 
agents or assigues, that they shall have free liberty to make all convenient 
wayes and passages, as also all manner of pooles, dams, water courses, sluice- 
ponds for water, in all wast grounds or other conveniences to, from, and for the 
service of the said workes built or to be built, not impropriated to any towue or 
person, during such time as the said workes shall continue; provided if, by any 
pond, sluce, water-course, dam, or any other worke, (though in land unimpro- 
priated,) they should spoyle, or any wayes preiudice, the land appropriated to 
any towne or person, the said undertakers shall make due and iust satisfaction. 

"3d. The court doth hereby further grant to the said adventurers, their 
agents or assignes, in all the grounds that are or shall be appropriated, that the 
said adventurers, their agents or assignes, shall have free liberty at all times 
during the said tearmo to digg, gett, carry away all manner of stono or iron 
ore, and to make and use all uouvenieut wajes and water-courses, pooles, dams, 



456 IRON WORKS. 

tended with i)rofit, but loss, which he attributed in part to the 
high price of labor, and in part to the want of skill and experi- 
ence in the manufacture of iron, but expresses a hope " that the 
owners may pick up their crumbs again ; hopes they will perse- 
vere, and expresses a great satisfaction in the thought that in 
addition to these commodities which the people of New Eng- 
land were already to exjiort, — as wheat, rye, oats, barley, peas, 
beef, pork, fish, butter, cheese, timber, masts, tar, soap, lumber, 

sluces, ponds for water and otlier conveniences to, from, and for the service of 
the said works, through all the said grounds that are or hereafter shalbe im- 
propriated, (except houses, or orchards not exceeding three acres, and yards,) 
giving such due and full recompense for the same to the owners thereof, for the 
time being, as three indifferent men shall adiudg, whereof one to be appointed 
by the said court at the next generall meeting after the undertakers, their 
agents, or assignes, shall make or use any of the said wayes or water courses, 
or other perticulers herein mentioned for the services aforesaid, and one other 
by the owner of the land for the time being, and the third by the undertakers or 
adventurers. 

"4th. The court doth hereby further graunt unto the said adventurers and 
to their heires and assignes forever, so much land now or hereafter to be in this 
iurisdiction, as aforesaid, as shall containe in sixe places, three miles square, 
in each place, or so much in quantity as containeth three miles square, not ex- 
ceeding four miles in length, to be set out in such places and parcels as the said 
undertakers or their agents shall make choyce of, not being already impropri- 
ated, as aforesaid ; upon which said land the said adventurers shall have free 

liberty, and hereby do undertake, that within the said tearme of years, to 

search, sett and find out convenient places within the said compas of land, for 
the building and setting up of six forges, or furnaces, and not bloomaries onely, 
or so many more as they shall have occasion for, for the making of iron as 
aforesaid, which they shall (th« iron, stone and other materialls p'ving proper 
and fit for the making of iron, as aforesaid) build and set up w'in the tearme 
aforesaid; provided, that ye court may graunt a plantation in any place where 
ye co't thinketh mute, the adventurers or their agents there residing haveing 
first notice thereof, and not making clioyce of the same for part of the land to 
be set out and graunted to them, for the designe of planting the said iron works, 
and making iron, as aforesaid. 

"5th. It is gi'aunted and ordered, that what quantity of iron, of all sorts and 
qiialities, the said adventurers, their agents or assignes, shall make more than 
ye inhabitants shall have neede and use of, for their service, to be bought and 
paid for by the said inhabitants, as aforesaid, they shall have free liberty to 
transport the same by shiping to other parts or places of the world, and to make 
sale thereof in what way and place the said adventurers shall please, for their 
best advantage, provided they sell it not to any i)erson or State in actuall hos- 
tility with us. 

" Oth. That it is graunted and ordered that the said erktuers, their agents and 



IRON WORKS. 457* 

etc., they were likely to be able to export iron and lead." Mr. 
Hubbard, in his New England histories, makes the following 
quaint allusion to the cause of the breaking up of this unfortu- 
nate project, viz. :_» Which was projected and strenuously car- 
ried on for some considerable time, but at length, instead of 
drawmg out bars of iron for the country's use, there was ham- 
mered out nothing but contentions and lawsuits, to the great 
disadvantage of the undertakers." 

It is useless for us to go over the extensive field of contro- 
versy in reference to whether Lynn or Braintree erected the 
first iron forge in America. It is of little moment to us whether 
Lynn or Braintree began their works one or six months previous 
to the other, as they were one and the same company, and most 
probably tlieir works were established as near together as the 
nature of the circumstances would admit. We are, however, of 
an opinion that the evidence preponderates to Lynn; still it is 
an open question, and we think will ever remain as such. 

Tiie first branch forge and furnace, for the manufacture of iron 
ware in America, (as it was one branch, the other having been 

servants, shall, from the date of these presents, forever have and euioy all lib- 
erties and inmnities whatsoever, p'sent or to come, equall with any within this 
lorLsaiction. according to the lawes and orders thereof for the time being, and 
according to the rightes and priviledges of the churches. 

"7th. It is also grauuted, that the undertakers and adventurers, together 
with their agents, servants and assignes, shallbe and are hereby free from all 
taxes, asseasments, contributions and other public charges whatsoever, for so 
much of their stock, store or goods, as shall be implied in and about the said 

iron works, for and during the tearme of years yet to come, from the date 

or these presents. 

" 8th. It is hereby graunted and ordered, that all such clarks and workmen 
as miners, founders, finers, hamermen and colliers, necessarily implied or to be 
implied in and about the said workes, built or to be built, for any the services 

hereof, shall, from time to time during the said tearme of years, bo, and 

hereby are, absolutely freed and discharged of and from all ordinary trainings 
watchings. &c., but that every person at all times be furnished with arms, pow- 
der, shott, etc.. according to order of court. 

"9th. It is lastly ordered by the court, that in all places where any iron 
worke IS set up, remote from a church or congregation, unto which they cannot 
conveniently come, that the undertaker.s will be pleased to provide some good 
meanes whereby their families may be instructed in the knowledge of God by 
such as the a.urt or standing councell shall approve of."-Mass. liecords, Vol 
iJ., p. 125. 

69 



458 IRON WORKS. 

built at Lynn, by the same company), was constructed in that 
part of Braintree which is now called Quincy, on what has ever 
been known as the Furnace brook. My reason for this asser- 
tion against all written authorities, is as follows : — 

In 1653, the general iron company became embarrassed and 
failed. It appears in the apprizement of their effects, made at 
that time, that there was but one forge or furnace belonging to 
them in the town of Braintree. 

In 1674-5, after twenty years litigation with the company, 
Mr. Thomas Wiggin obtained possession, in satisfaction of a 
judgment of a certain tract of land ; he conveyed the same to 
one Thomas Savage, who sold it to Gregory Belcher and Alex- 
ander Marsh, and it appears below that a furnace was located 
upon this land held by Belcher and Marsh ; it also appears that 
this land included within its bounds. Furnace brook. 

We have searched the records in all directions for the sale of 
detached portions of the other landed estates enumerated in the 
comjjany's apprizement, belonging to them, to ascertain if any 
other forge was to be found in the possession of this association 
in Braintree, and have been unable to find the least intimation 
that there was. This forge was constructed in the most south- 
erly i^art of the Hall Cemetery, on the Furnace brook, a short 
distance south of the Catholic Church, on Cemetery street. West 
Quincy, where the relics are to be seen to this day. It is hoped 
that the town, or some public-spirited individuals, will have a 
monument erected over this mound to perpetuate this noted 
locality where the first iron forge was established in the United 
States. 

Mr. Vinton, in his memorial, gives an extended account of the 
iron works in Braintree, in which he endeavors to make it appear 
that the first forge and furnace in the United States was erected 
on the MonatiqTiot river, in tliis old township. To establish this 
point, lie has based this assertion upon a false conclusion, by 
making the great and fatal mistake in asserting that tlie Fur- 
nace brook was tlie Monatiquot river, which is not the case ; 
as the Furnace l>rook is now, and always has been in tliat 
l^art of old Braintree, now called Quincy. The old petrified 
foundation timbers can be seen to this day embedded in the 



IKON WORKS. 459 

banks of this quiet stream ; slags of iron, and old cinders can 
be seen in this locality at any time, which to our mind clearly 
proves that the manufacture of iron Avas carried on here. Tra- 
dition relates that the forge on the Furnace brook was more 
successful than it Avould have been if it had been erected on the 
Monatiquot river, on account of sow iron being more easily ob- 
tained, of better quality and in a greater supply, from the exten- 
sive swailips that surrounded this locality. 

Mr. Vinton commits another error in stating that Mr. Belcher 
and Mr. Marsh were not able to hold the furnace land after they 
had j)urchased it. Mr. Alexander Marsh, the progenitor of the 
Marsh family in this town, came into possession of Mr. Belcher's 
share of the furnace land by inheritance through his wife, who 
was the daughter of Mr. Belcher. It can also be proved by the 
inventory of Mr. Marsh that he held this estate at the time of 
his decease. To show that he was in possession of this property 
at this time, we will give the following item as taken from his 
executor's account to be found in the Suffolk Probate Court 
Records, Libro VIII, folio 123, viz: — "The furnace land at 
Crane's Plaine containing two hundred and fifteen acres valued 
at four hundred pounds, and also the Barnabas Dorifield's lot 
adjoyning the furnace land, containing sixteen acres." 

There was no reason why Mr. Marsh could not hold this land, 
as he was at that time one of the three wealthiest men in the 
town, the other two were Mr. Edmund Quincy and Mr. Joseph 
Crosby, whose respective estates were apprized as follows : — Mr. 
Quincy's, a little rising twenty-two hundred pounds ; Mr. Cros- 
by's, rising fifteen hundred jiounds, and Mr. Marsh's something 
over twelve hundred pounds. But to settle this question beyond 
a doubt, we will give the bounds of this land as sold by Mr. 
Savage to Belcher and Marsh in 1674-5 : — 

" The old furnace at Braintree with all the houses thereon 
belonging, Avith all the land thereto, being in estimation two 
hundred acres, be it more or less, being bounded on the land of 
Elder Kingsly on the north, (Mr. Kingsly's estate was in West 
Quincy, adjoining East Milton, and he was the first Elder of the 
First Church, and afterwards removed to Milton) ; on the west 
by the Common lands of Braintree, (which were the Blue Hill 



460 IRON WORKS. 

lands) ; on the south and east on the Furnace brook, with land 
obtained by Thomas Wiggin, by judgment against the estate 
of the undertakers of the iron works, levied by execution and 
sold by said Wiggin unto said Savage, with the wood, under- 
wood, trees, timber lying and being thereon, together with all 
the privileges, appurtenances, belonging thereto, as also si,\teen 
acres of land abutting upon the said furnace land which was 
lately in the occupation of Barnabas Dorifield." 

Another fact which goes to corroborate its having been estab- 
lished, on the Furnace brook at this early period is, that a few 
years ago, in making an excavation at the old forge, a sign plate 
of iron was found bearing date of 1646, which to my mind is 
conclusive evidence that the furnace was in this locality at this 
time. Then again the facility and access for procuring and trans- 
porting fuel for the forge from their supposed grant of three thou- 
sand acres of woodland, (one-half of which was in East Milton, 
embracing what is called the Scotch Woods, and the other fifteen 
hundred acres were the Blue Hill lands in Braintree,) was decid- 
edly more convenient to the Furnace brook than to the Monat- 
iquot river, as doubtless it was here the coal was manufactured 
for the use of the furnace. The consumption of so much 
wood caused an oj)position to arise among the inhabitants of 
the town to the iron works ; as they considered that if the 
works continued many years they would not have sufficient fuel 
for domestic and other purposes. 

The greater part of the capital and principal business was at 
Lynn, as at the time of the failure of the iron company the 
apprizements of their estate at Lynn amounted to £3295 2s. 6d., 
and at Braintree, £666 3s. 3d. The following is an abstract of 
the apprizement at Braintree, Avhich contains the principal 
effects belonging to the company at the time of their failure, in 
1653 :— 



" A little house, 2 

350 loads of coal, - - - . 197 
Tlie forge, dam, water courses, flood gates, 

pond, and all things belonging to it, 297 

Tairs (or Thayers) Lott, 1 accor 17 rods, 2 



10 





10 





10 





15 






£ 


8. 


V. 


17 


17 


6 


■ 3 








4 


10 





7 


5 





4 


10 





2 


17 


6 


1 








5 








36 








10 








1 





0" 



IRON WORKS. 461 

Penns Lett. 78 accors, - - _ 
Old Rugglcs Lett. 20 accors, 
Young Rugglcs Lott. 30 accors, - 
Martin Sanders Lott. 29 accors, - 
Good (man) Newcombs. 18 accors, - 
Chapmans. 1 accor, - . _ . 
Levitts House Lott. 41 Rods, 
Widow Hunns Lott. 20 accors, - 
6 tun of Cast Iron, at £6 the tun, 
10 of barr Iron, ----- 
John ffrerck. 60 rods, - - - 

—Mass. Arch., Vol. LIX, p. 47. 

The remaining portion of the apprizement is made up of 
anvils, hammers and other implements connected with the 
works. By this inventory it appears that there is but one forge 
mentioned as being in Braintree, as we have before stated ; this 
was the forge purchased by Belcher and Marsh. The names of 
the workmen that we have seen recorded appear to have been 
Scotchmen. It was the custom at this period for individuals to 
be sent from Great Britain to America and sold into limited ser- 
vitude by indenture as a matter of speculation, and the laborers 
of the iron works were procured in this manner. Servitude by 
indenture continued to exist in the Colonies and Provinces down 
to the Revolutionary period. At the time of the failure of the 
iron company, this system of servitude left the workmen very 
poor and without money for subsistence, and liable to become a 
town charge. To relieve the town of this exigency, they peti- 
tioned the General Court for assistance, as follows, viz : — " In 
answer to the petition of Braintree humbly desiring some relief to 
several persons brought in by the OAvners of the iron works, yet 
are likely to be chargeable to them, especially in relation to 
Jun Frauncis, his poor condition calling for present reliefe, &c., 
so this court refers this part of their petition to the next County 
Court in Suffolk, where all parties concerned may have liberty 
to present their respective pleas and evidence." 

The second iron works Avcrc erected on the Monatiquot river 
in Braintree, between the years 1682 and 1684, l)y Mr. John 



462 IRON WORKS. 

( 

Hubbard, a merchant of Boston, who had purchased the iron com- 
jsany's Lands in this vicijiity. No doubt that when the iron com- 
pany purchased this tract in Braintree, they contemplated build- 
ing there; but from some cause or other, they did not. It is 
very evident that when Mr. Hubbard purchased this estate, in 
1682, there had never been a furnace or forge built on this river, 
as in the deeds of conveyance to hira there is not the least sug- 
gestion or intimation that they had ever existed in this locality. 
After he had made his purchase of Savage and Penn, he went 
to work and improved these lands by building a saw mill, fur- 
nace and forge. This improvement enabled Mr. Hubbard to 
more readily dispose of this estate in small parcels to various 
individuals; which he did as a matter of speculation. The most 
important circumstance contained in his deeds of conveyance, 
is the settlement of the vexed question of the time, and by 
Avhom the forge was erected on the Monatiquot river, which 
the following conveyances will illustrate — two of them being 
made in one day, viz : — 

"Hubbard to Dummer, In consideration of a valuable sum 
of money to me paid, I, John Hubbard, of Boston, County of 
Suffolk, sold to Jeremiah Dummer, of Boston, goldsmith, of said 
County of Suffolk, one-sixth part of all that plotte or parcel of 
land scituated, lying and being in Braintrey, within the County 
of Suffolk, near the road or highway leading from Braintry to 
Weymouth, which I purchased of William Penn by deed, 18th 
of October, 1682, which land is bounded on the county road to 
an elm tree standing near the landing place, and from the elm 
tr#e running southeasterly to low-water mark ; and bounded 
northerly with Monotoquod river ; bounded westerly with a 
runell of water issuing from a swamp commonly called the soap- 
house swamp, and as a speciall appertenance and j^riviledge 
annexed thereunto, as much more land adjoyning, and bounded 
by the river, as the said Hubbard shall have occasion to fflow. 
The parcel of land is commonly known by the name of William 
Penn's Upper Landing place, where the saw pitts are, with the 
jDriviledge of a river for the setting up of a mill, and ingress, 
egress and regress, way and passage to and from the same ; also 
the just sixth part of all the land and rights, liberties and privi- 



IKON WORKS. 463 

ledges, I purchased of Joseph Alleine, of Brantery, upon the 
northwest side of Monotoquod river, as may appear by deed 
upon record hearing date tlie 2Gtli of December, 1GS2, togetlier 
with one-sixth part of tlie Iron TFbr^s, Forge, Dam and Pond, 
fflume and Saio Mill, by 3fe Greeted and Made, now standing, 
or near the river, and all housing, ediffices and buildings what- 
soever, upon the land. 1684, 13th Dec."— Lib. 14, fol. 361. 

"Hubbard to Samuel White, of Boston." Mr. Hubbard sold 
to Mr. White on the same day, one-sixth part of this estate. 
The bounds being the same as the former conveyance, we shall 
not repeat it. 

" Hubbard to Addington. Mr. Hubbard sold to Isaac Addinir- 
ton, of Boston, the full moiety of one-half part of a fforge and 
other buildings belonging thereunto, with the ground it stan<ls 
on, (scituated, standing and being, within the Townshij) of 
Braintery, on the south-east side of the Monotoquod river, near 
adjoyning the fforge lately built by said Hubbard, particularly 
the Wheel, Shaft, Bellows, Hammers and Anvill, with what may 
be erected on the same, with all priviledges and advantages 
thereunto belonging. Each building with a wliarf adjoyning is 
now in hands with and to be built and finished by Ephriam 
Hunt, of Weymouth, and Robert I'otter, of Lynn. To have 
and to hold half the said land, buildino;s and wharf belomrino" 
to them, after they are finished, with all tlie priviledges and 
appurtenances thereunto belonging. 1685, 13tli Oct." — Lib. 13, 
fol. 491. 

Mr. Hubbard, after having erected his forge, made a contract 
with parties at Nahant to supply him with iron ore at three shil- 
lings per ton. In 1720, Mr. Nathaniel Hubbard, son of Jol)n, 
finally sold to Mr. Thomas Vinton the laiul on which the iron 
works stood. Soon after Mr. Vinton purcliased this estate, the 
contention began between him and the town in reference to the 
dam obstructing the fish from freely passing up the river. It 
will be seen by the town records for years that this question was 
brouglit before them at their annual meetings, until it was finally 
settled, in 1736, when the iron works dam was demolished by a 
committee chosen by the town for the purpose. The following 
persons constituted this committee : — 



464 IKON WORKS. 

Hon. Leonard Vassal, Mr. Benj. Neal, Mr. Richard Faxon, 
^ Mr. John Holbrook and Mr. William Penniman. This com- 
mittee was chosen Aug. 23d, 1736. 

At a meeting held Oct. 4th, 1736, " the town voted that three 
hundred pounds in Bills of Credite (which at that time had 
greatly depreciated), shall be paid to Mr. Thomas Vinton, in 
case the said Vinton will give to the Town a good Deed of Re- 
lease or Quit-claim, of all his right in the iron works river ; Pro- 
vided also, that he makes no further demands on the Town, nor 
prosecute any person or persons on account of anything already 
done relating to the pulling down of the dam that lately stood 
across the said River." 

This offer was accepted by Mr. Vinton, and the old forge, fifty- 
six years after its construction, ceased to exist, with apjiarently 
no greater success than its predecessor on the Furnace brook. 

In connection with this subject of the iron works, we give 
the following ingenious and reasonable conjecture in reference 
to the workmen who came here, and the origin of the name of 
Scotch Woods, from the address of Mr. James M. Robbins, deliv- 
ered in 1862, in commemoration of the two hundredth anniver- 
sary of the incorj^oration of the town of Milton : — 

" A certain locality within our present borders has long been 
known, without any data as to the origin of the name, as Scotch 
Woods. Tlie explanation I am about to give is unsujjported by 
any record, and is entirely conjectural with myself. In 1643, 
John Winthrop, Jr., came from England, and brought £1000 
worth of stock and divers workmen to begin an iron work. He 
had formed in England a company for this purpose. The Gen- 
eral Court of Massachusetts encouraged the enterprise, by grant- 
ing a monopoly for twenty-one years, freedom from taxes and 
trainings of the laborers, and a very liberal grant of the Colonial 
lands to be made wlien the works were comj^leted. The town 
of Boston was greatly interested in the undertaking, and the 
location of the works at Braintree was encouraged by a grant of 
three thousand acres of land, still belonging to Boston at that 
place. This tract is the same land which was purchased seventy 
years afterwards, in 1711, by Manasseh Tucker, Samuel Miller, 
Moses Belcher and John Wadsworth of Milton, and divided by 



IRON WORKS. 465 

the Court, between Braintree and Milton. Tlie fifteen hun- 
di-ed acres attaclied to ouv jurisdiction forms the present Scotch 
Woods settlement. In 1651, two of the largest stockholders 
of this iron company, residing in London, viz : — John Bccx and 
Robert Rich, chartered a large ship bound to Jamaica, to touch 
at Boston and land there two hundred and seventy-two Scotch 
prisoners, taken from a lot of eight thousand prisoners captured 
by Cromwell, Sept. 3d, 1650, at the battle of Dunbar. The ship 
arrived at Boston in May, 1651, and landed the prisoners, con- 
signed to the agent of the iron works, and their names are all 
recorded in the Boston records. 

"In July, of the same year, the Rev. John Cotton wrote a letter 
to Cromwell, as follows : — ' The Scots whom God delivered into 
your hands at Dunbarre and whereof sundry were sent hither we 
have been desirous (as we could) to make their yoke easy. Such 
as were sick of the scurvy or other diseases, have not wanted 
physic and chyrurgery. They were not sold for slaves to per- 
petual servitude, but for six, seven or eight years, as we do our 
own ; and he that bought the most of them, (I heare), buildeth 
houses for them — for every four an house — layeth some acres of 
ground thereto, which he giveth them as their own, requiring 
three days in the week to worke for him (by turns) and four 
days for them themselves, and promiseth as soon as they can 
repay him the money he laid out for them, he will set them at 
liberty.' 

" I infer from these circumstances that Becx and Rich, for 
themselves or the company, thinking to get some income from 
their land, which without laborers was unproductive and incon- 
vertible, embarked in this speculation, and the mode of dispos- 
ing of the prisoners mentioned by Cotton, was only a form 
necessary to satisfy the public mind in the matter, and the men 
were employed on this land belonging to the freighters of the 
ship in the way described in the letter ; and thus originated the 
name Scotch Woods, ever since attached to the spot. This sup- 
position is confirmed by an act of tlie General Court A. D. 1652, 
ordering that all Scotchmen and Negroes shall train — referring, 
doubtless, to their first law exempting the laborers of the iron 
comj)any from this duty. These persons may have been em- 

60 



466 IRON WORKS. 

ployed in cutting wood or collecting bog ore for the iron com- 
pany. The result of this operation was, that after a large outlay 
of cajjital it was found that every pound of iron made, cost more 
than two jDOunds imiDorted from Europe ; the company failed, 
the sheriff seized their effects, and their laborers were dispersed 
and mixed up with the general population of the country." 

Richard Leader was the first superintendent of the iron works 
both at Lynn and Braintree. He appears to have been a skilful 
artisan and a shrewd business man, but a bluff and free-spoken 
person ; caring little for the Colonial Government or the Church 
of the Puritans, as he is said to have defamed it, and slandered 
the town and Commonwealth, for which misdemeanors he was 
tried, convicted and fined fifty pounds, and if he did not make 
sufficient and satisfactory acknowledgment and recantation to 
tlie Court, he should be obliged to pay a fine of two hundred 
pounds. The sincerity of a forced acknowledgment, for an 
opinionated wrong is doubtful, and generally not of permanent 
duration. 

" Whereas, Mr. Richard Leader, an inhabitant in this Com- 
monwealth, has been accused, that contrary to the law of God 
and the laws here established, he hath threatened, and in a high 
degree rejjroached and slaundered the Courts, magistrates and 
Gouei'nment of this Commonweale, and defamed the town and 
Church of sin, also, affronted and reproached the constable in 
the execution of his ofiice ; all which the Court hauinge heard, 
together with evidence prouinge the same, doe judge, for j^unish- 
ment of his great offense, that he shaU make acknowledgement 
of his offense unto the Court before the breaking up hereof, when 
this Court shall appoint, and also giue sufticyent security for his 
good abearing hereafter, and be fined the sum of fifty pounds, to 
be payed before the next session of this Court, towards the de- 
fraying of the charges expended by the country in hearing the 
case, but in case Mr. Leader's acknowledgement doth not ansAver 
the exj^ectations of the Court in the way of satisfaction for his 
offense, that then this Court doth order that Mr. Leader shall 
pay to the public treasurer, as a fine for his offences, the sum of 
two hundred pounds, to be payd before the next session of this 
Court. And further it is ordered by this Court, that whatsoeuer 



IRON WOEKS. 467 

fine hath been imposed upon Mr. Richard Leader by this Court 
for his miscariage, shalbe secured by band or otherwise, and in 
the mean time that liis person bee responsible for the fine." 

The following is the character of Mr. Leader's acknowledg- 
ment to the court : — 

" Whereas, there is certayne testiraonyes in writing exhibited 
agaynst me to the General Court, accusing me for speaking evill 
af^aynst the gouernmcnt, magistrates and churches of this Col- 
ony, as by the said testimoneyes in writing may more largly 
appeare, I do acknowledge and confesse that in case I should 
bee at any time left to speake these words, I should not only 
have broken the rules of christianyty but of morallity and civil- 
lity, desiring to be condemned justly of all christians and just, 
civill, honest men, for which I should condemne myself, being 
these things that in my judgement and practice, I hate and do 
detest and abhorre, leaving what I now say together with what 
is testified agaynst me, to the rightious judge of heaven and 
earth, which in his due time will manyfest the truth, and aquite 
the inocent, and reward the guilty according to their deserts, but 
the thing being testified by two witnesses, the Court hade course 
to proceed agaynst me. Richard Leader, May 22d, 1651." 

" This acknowledgement of Mr. Leader the Court did accept 
of, provided he be still hable to pay the fifty pounds imposed 
uppon him in his sensure, and bee of good behavior, as is there 
expressed and that it bee left wholely to the wisdomc of our 
honored magistrates to take what band they think fitt of Mr. 
Leader, respecting those things before mentioned." — Mass. Rec, 
Vol. Ill, pp. 227, 228. 

The note below will illustrate the stringent poverty of the 
time, and the great want of money in the Colony. The Colo- 
nists, in their humble manner, understood the laws of political 
economy as well as the business men of this day, but were una- 
ble to carry it out for the want of funds.^ 



1. The followiug letter from the authorities will better illustrate the I^eader 
controversy, aud more fully give the questions involved in the subject:— 

" Gent,— Wee received your letter of May, 1(^1(), concerning your affaires in 
the iron works, whereby wee porciove your discontent with the last agreement 
■wee made with your ageut, Mr. Leader, aud under the provocatiou (as you seeiu 



468 IRON WORKS, 

Mr. John Gifford succeeded Mr. Leader as superintendent of 
the iron works, and was equally, if not more unfortunate, than 
his predecessor in his business transactions. Mr. Gifford having 
become embarrassed in financial matters, was, under the rigid 
and stern statute of the Colonies, imprisoned for debt, and in 
his petition to the Court for the commutation of his sentence, 
states that he is in a starving condition, for the want of proper 
nourishment. He also states that he has now been in prison 
upon execution four years and seven months, and without relief 
from the Court, will inevitably perish in prison, for the want of 
" meet supplizes" for his relief. His petition seems to have been 
favorably received by the General Court, as in May, 1656, the 
Court ordered his release, as follows, viz : — " This Court, on peru- 
sall of a letter directed to the Governor and Councell and Gene- 
ral Assembley of New England, or who else it may concerne, 
signed by John Becx, Phebe Frost, Thos. Foley, John Pococke 

to apprehend) wee find you still sharpe to your conclusions most peremtory, 
than rational (as we conceive) but we consider you have binn hitherto loosers, 
and therefore take leave to speake. For your good affection to our Collony, 
wee doubt not but it was one principal motion which drew you to this under- 
taking, and wee desire ever to present a greatefuU memory thereof, as mani- 
fested both by this and other forraigne testimouyes, but foreasmuch as these 
that are neerest the object are best able to discerne the forme and coulour thereof 
so you may vouchsafe to heare our opinion of such conclusions as you have 
made to yourselves, where i;pou you have taken up such hard conceites of our 
compliance with yow, for the particular grievances you insist upon, wee have 
declared our forwardness to embrace and nourish your good will by our ready 
yielding a redresse of most of them, which wee had donne before, if wee had 
supix)sed you had reposed so much in them for your advantage as you now 
seeme to do; ye like we would have donne before by the rest, if they had not 
much more precured our welfare then your advantage. Wee acknowledge with 
you, that such a staple commodity as iron is a great meanes to iorich the place 
where it is, both by furnishing this place with the commodity at reasonable rates, 
and by bringing in other necessary comodityes in exchange of iron exported ; 
but as wee use to say, if a man lives where an oxe is worth but 12d, yet it is 
never the cheaper to him who cannot gett the 12d to buy one, so if your iron 
may not be had heere without ready money, what advantage will that be to us, 
if wee have no money to purchase it? Itt is true some men have here Spanish 
money sometimes, but little comes to our smiths hands, especially those of 
inland townes, and yourselves well know that so long as our ingate exceeds our 
outgate, the ballance must need be made by much within such a proportion as 
it is with us, cann leave us but little money once in the yeere, what monyes our 
smiths cann gett you maybe sure to have it before any other; but if wee must 



IRON WORKS. 469 

and William Greenhill, bearing date 27th of Feb., 1655, which 
also was recorded in the Court's day-books 21st of May, 1656, 
the same day on which it was brought and presented by Mr. Gif- 
ford, doe judge meet in answer thereunto, and on their request 
do order the said John Gifford shalbe, and is hereby released 
and discharged from being any longer a prisoner, upon the judg- 
ment of this Court in reference to the said Becx & Company, 
for which he hath bin and yet is a prisoner, he discharging the 
charges of the prison." — Colonial Records, Vol. Ill, p. 406. 

John and Henry Leonard were also connected with the iron 
works in Lynn and Braintree, as hammersmiths. They were 
from the County of Monmouth, Wales. It is said that they 
went from Braintree to Taunton, in 1652, where they soon after 
constructed within the present limits of Raynham the first forge 
in Plymouth County, and were extensively connected with other 
works of the same nature. But we find by the following depo- 
sition, that Henry was in Braintree as late as 1655 : — 

want iron so often as our money failes, you may easily judge if it were not better 
for us to procure it from other places, (by our corne and pipestaves, &c. , ) then to 
depend on the coming of money, which is never so plentifuU as to supply for 
that occasion and for the other bencfitt which usually by staple commodityes, itt 
is true if yourselves dwelt amongst us, such advantage would be very great, but 
when the proceeds of what shall be exported never return to the country, when 
shall we expect our advantages? Somewhat indeed will fall by the way, which 
will be expended upon workmen and provisions; but that will hardly recom- 
pense the wood and timber which being in the heart of the townes, would have 
been of some worth to us, if but to save the carriage of fetching it so much 
father, though our lands should not come into valluation, which yett is known 
to be of good worth in those townes, where your present workes are; for the 
other particulars wherein wee have not granted your motion, viz: — The liberty 
for the whole time to sett up the workes, the reason of our declaring it is, if 
those G workes should take up all our titt places and when the terme is expired 
some of ours should have means to erect any such workes, wee should loose the 
bennefitt thereof, &c., these considerations wee refer to your further thoughts, 
hopeing that you will so concurr with us therein, as all future differences maybe 
avoyded, which we are very unwilling to entertaine with such of our loving 
friends (as we accomp you to be) and yourselves in persecution of the reall in- 
tentions of our advantage, will please to lind out so aeciuill a way whereby q;ir 
occasious may bo comfortably supi)lyed, and yourselves cncouradged and 
inabled to proceed on in your undertakings by the blessing of the Lord, upon 
which our poor prayers are not wanting to. So wee remayue &co." — Mass. 
Kec, Vol. Ill, pp. 91, 92, 93. 



470 IRON WORKS. 

" Testimony of Henry Leonard, hammersmith, of the age of 
thirty-seven or thereabouts. This deponent saith That there 
was a small Heap of Coles at Brantrey Forge, which was coaled 
about nine years agoe, and these Coles Lay Rotting, and noe use 
was made of them before they were spoalyed, and Mr. Gifford, 
being Agent, was to bring in a new stock, which stock could not 
be Layed before the Rotten Coles were Removed because the Cat- 
tle Could not Turne. Whereupon, they being well observed both 
by Mr. Gifford and myself, Mr. Gifford gave me orders that if 
Goodman* Foster, or some other of Braintree, could make any use 
of them, I should dispose of them. Whereupon, Goodman Foster 
had about two half Lodes, and some of the rest of the neighbours 
thereabout fetched some of them, but they were soe bad, they 
would fetch no more, and Goodman Foster took as much paynes 
about them as they were worth, and although they would serve his 
Turn, they would not serve us at the forge, and whereas Goodman 
Pray saith he gott out of them to make a great quantity of iron, 
I know the Labour that he and Thos. Billington bestowed about 
drawing of them was more than they were worth. And whereas 
Goodman Pray saith he made so much iron of them, he made 
not a quarter of a Tunn of these Coles, but did cast now and 
then a Baskett of them among the other Coles, but they were 
worth nothing to his works. Sworn before me, Daniel Dennis- 
son, Oct. 27th, 1655."— Hist. Gen. Rec, Vol. XV, p. 146. 

It is very evident that this attempt to establish iron works in 
the Massachusetts Colony never paid, for the reason that it was 
too great an undertaking for the times. The sparseness of the 
population and the poverty of the Colonies could not, for the 
want of sufficient available capital, prosecute this much-needed 
enterprize with that degree of success that was so desirable to 

1. " The application of both official and conventional titles was a matter of 
careful observance. Only a small number of persons of the best condition had 
the designation Mr. or ISIrs. prefixed to their names; this respect was always 
shown to ministers and their wives. Most of the Deputies are designated in 
the records by their names only, without a prefix, unless they were officers of 
the Church, or of the Militia; iu the latter case they received there appropriate 
title through all the ranks from General to Corporal. Goodman and Goodwife 
were the appropriate addresses of persons above the condition of servitude and 
below that of Gentility. "—Palfrey's Hist, of N. E., Vol. II, p. G7. 



IRON WORKS. 471 

its projectors. Though it proved a faihire, no doubt this project 
was some advantage to the community, as tlie Colonists had be- 
come somewhat acquainted and instructed in the art and skill so 
much desired for the manufacturing of iron ware ; and it also 
very probably enabled them, when they removed to more favor- 
able localities in more auspicious times, to successfully and prof- 
itably carry on the business of fabricating iron in all its various 
branches. 

In the commencement of this sketch of the iron works we 
alluded to the apparent discrepancy of authors in reference to 
the location of the Winthrop grant^ to the said iron company. 

1 . The following is the original grant of land by the town of Boston to the 
company of iron works, in Braintree: — 

" Granted by the town of Boston unto the Yorn Works, two thousand eight 
hundred and sixty acres of land, at Brantrey, bounded on the south and the 
west with Boston Common, on the north by divers Lotts belonging to Boston, 
on the east by Weymouth lands and Weymouth pond, also one hundred and 
forty acres of land being bounded on the south, by Mr. Henry Webb's farm, 
Monotiquit River on the west, and on the north and on the east, with certain 
lotts of Boston, as appears by the plot drawn up by Joshua Fisher, 16-9-1G47, 
and confirmed by the Selectmen of Boston, 23-9-16i7." — Lib. I, fol. 73. 

It is somewhat unfortunate that the plans taken of this grant are lost, as we 
were not able to find them at the City Clerk's or Surveyor's Office, nor at the 
Register of Deeds. 

It will be borne in mind that the original grant was made in 1G43, but it will 
be seen that the land was not laid out by the Selectmen of Boston until some 
four years after, or in 1647. 

The following is Mr. John A. Vinton's version of the subject: — 

"Ephriam Savage and Sarah his wife sold to John Hubbard, merchant, all 
of Boston in the County of Suffolk, for and in consideration of £500 current 
money have sold to John Hubbard of Boston, all that tract or parcell of land 
lying, scituated in Brautery, within the County of Suffolk, commonly called 
Iron Works Land, containing two thousand and four hundred acres bee it more 
or less, and is part of that three thousand acres formerly granted by the Town 
of Boston for the company of Iron Workes according to a plot thereof drawn 
and signed by the Selectmen of said Boston, butted and bounded easterly, on 
the land of John Holbrook, (which was parcel of said land) ; westerly on Boston 
Common Lands; northerly part on Monaticot River; part on Laud of John 
Hull, Esq., and southerly upon Boston Commons, or however else bounded, 
with trees, timber, wood, underwood, swamps, herbage, feedings, benefits, lib- 
erties, priviledges, and appurtenances thereuuto belonging. It will be seen, 
at the time this sale was made of the iron company's laud, that there was no 
forge or furnace mentioned as being on Monati<iuot river. Dec. 7, 1G82." — 
Lib. XII, fol. 30G, Suffolk Deeds. 



472 IRON WORKS. 

By further investigation we have not been able to satisfactorily 
nnvavel this complicated matter. We have given in a note, 
the recorded bounds of the grant in controversy, and therefore 
the readers can judge for themselves who is right. 
i 

The following is Mr. Jainea M. Robbins' idea of the disposition of this grant: 
" That by breach of contract it reverted back to Boston, and in 1711, was sold to 
parties in tlie town of Milton." 

This is a copy of the legal conveyance of the land to the following gentlemen 
of Milton : — " The Boston Selectmen sold to Manasseh Tucker, Samuel Miller, 
John Wadsworth and Moses Belcher of Miltou, in the County of Suffolk, for 
the consideration of £1500, sold certain Tracts or Quantity of common and cul- 
tivated land belonging to the town of Boston aforesaid, commonly called and 
known by the name of Blue Hill Lands, containing by estimation 3000 acres be 
the same more or less, lying and situated within the Township of Brautroy, for- 
merly called INIouut Wollaston in the County of Suffolk, as it is Described and 
Delineated on a plan or draught thereof made and taken by Joshua Fisher, Sur- 
veyor, in the year of our Lord, 1654. Part of the land by him surveyed and 
platted as aforesaid lying on the southeasterly side having been released by the 
Town to the Braintrey Purchasers and is excepted in this sale. The Tract of 
land hereby intended and granted is butted and bounded northeasterly upon the 
Milton Line, southeasterly by the land late of John Hull, Esq., deceased, in 
part, and partly by the Land Iveleased as aforesaid to the Braintrey Purchasers 
carrying now on that side a straight line near south from Milton Line aforesaid 
to the Iviver, that is to the southward of Blue Hill, and bounded southerly and 
southwest upon the aforesaid Kiver, including also in this grant a quantity of 
meadow, by estimation about twenty acres, and bounded westerly by Dorches- 
ter Lands or however otherwise the said lands are bounded, or reputed to be 
bounded, having always reference to the surveyor's plan or draught. May 17, 
1711. "-Lib. XXVI, fol. 5. 

The released lands mentioned in the above instrument are those which were 
in controversy between Boston and Braintree for about half a century, and 
created a bitter feeling between the two towns. This release can be seen in 
Lib. XVlll, fol. 37. 

It will be observed that the bounds of the land in controTersy do not corre- 
spond with the bounds of the original grant to Mr. Wiuthrop, as it is impossible 
for us to conceive how the Braintree lands could be bounded on the Weymouth 
pond. 



GLASS WORKS. 



Tlie establishment of glass works at Braintree, in that part of 
Quincy now called Germantown, grew out of an unsuccessful 
attempt to settle a German Colony in the western part of the 
Pi'ovince of Massachusetts, and also two other townships in its 
Eastern Province, now included in the State of Maine. 

Mr. Joseph Crellius, from Franconia, Germany, came to Phil- 
adelphia, where he resided "a few years, and from whence he 
removed to Massachusetts. On his arrival, he opened negotia- 
tions with the Governor and General Court in reference to the 
importation of a Colony or Colonies of German Protestants 
into the Province by a petition and otherwise for that purpose.^ 
After considerable management, he succeeded in having four 

1. "Jan. 3, 1749. The committee appointed by the General Court to take 
into consideration the importation of Protestant Germans, made the following 
report, which after its amendment was accepted and adopted : — 

' ' The committee to consider some proper management for improving the natu- 
ral advantages of the soil, and having met and considered of the affair, report 
as follows, viz :— That it would be of public benefitt to import foreign Protes- 
tants to settle within this Province, are therefore of an opinion that tlie law 
which in any measure have a Tendancy to disuage such importation be super- 
seeded or Explained. 

"The committee also propose that there be two townships of six miles square 
allowed them to settle in, viz : — The westward township lately laid out, at or 
near Massachusetts Fort, and one other Township east thereof and adjoining 
thereto, be the town for these purposes. 

"That there be granted to each family that shall settle in either of said towns 
one hundred acres, and a further grant of twenty-live acres to each son of such 
families between sixteen and twenty-one years of age for the benefit of son 
when he shall arrive at age. That each single man that shall settle in either 
aforesaid Towns, there be granted fifty-one acres of land. 

"The committee also report that the following liounty be allowed to the 
importer of foreign Protestant indented servants, viz:— For each servant that is 
to serve five years, five dollars; for four years, four dollars; for three years, 
three dollars, and so on, if sold within the province, provided if said servant 

61 



474 GLASS WOKKS. 

tOAviisliips granted him ; two of wluch were located at Fort Mas- 
sachusetts and were to contain seven square miles of territory, 
(this grant of land is now included within the limits of the 
towns of Lee and Williamston, in the western part of the Com- 
monwealth). The other two were to he surveyed and laid out 
from the head of Sebago jiond, now in Cumberland County, 
State of Maine, and were to contain six square miles. 

These grants were made on the condition that Mr. Crcllius 
should import one hundred and twenty German l*rotostant fam- 
ilies into each of the said townships within three years, and also 
provide a learned Orthodox muiister for two years, in each of 
them. Mr. Crcllius not fulfilling his agreement with the gov- 
ernment within the spccilied time, the Legislature revoked his 
grants. Thus failed the project of establishing glass works in 
the towns of Lee and Williamston, Cumberland County, Maine, 
in 1749. 

Mr. Crcllius, not being disheartened by his failure to settle his 
former granted townships, devised the plan of organizing an- 
other company for the purpose of establishing a glass manufac- 
tory. This company consisted of the following persons, viz : — 
John Franklin, tallow chandler ; Norton Quincy, merchant ; 
Peter Etter, stocking weaver, all of Boston ; and Josci)h Crcl- 
lius, late of the City of Philadelphia. Isaac Winslow Avas after- 
wards added. This company, in 1750, leased of Col. John 
Quincy Shed's Neck, said at that time to comprise one hundred 
acres ; for ten shillings per acre. This association immediately 
had Shed's Neck surveyed and laid out into lots, with ample, 
pleasant and commodious streets and squares; which squares 
were sufficiently Germanized by such names as Bern, Hanover, 
Hague, Zuric and Menheim, as to make it a German town. The 

be afterward sold out of the Province, the vender shall repay the bounty afore- 
said. The conuuitteo further report for the iucourajjenient of raising winter 
wheat within the Province, there be paid to each person who shall raise and 
convoy to niarkot and sell in either town such wheat, shall bo allowed eight 
pence p»M- busholl, and for each hundred of (lower two shillings lawful money. 

" This report on its passage was amended by granting four townships instead 
of two." — Mass. Arch. 

It appears by this report that the sale of indentured persons into servitude 
was allowed in Massachusetts at this time. 



GLASS WORKS. 475 

squares and streets were extensively ornamented with native 
and exotic trees and shrubs. The plan of GciTnantown, after it 
had been completed, was recorded in the company's books; in 
which they say, " this tract of land is intended for a town, to be 
called Germantown, and we, the joint proprietors of said tract 
of land, having at heart to promote the increase, settling and 
improvement of the said toAvn for manufacturing purposes." 

We are unable to devise the reason why this company did not 
commence business at Germantown, but such appears to have 
been the fact, as in 1752, Aug. 27th, they released this township^ 

1. " This Indenture between John Franklin of Boston, Norton Quincy, mer- 
chant, Peter Etter, Boston, Stocking Weaver, Joseph CrelHus, late of the city of 
Philadelphia, and now of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, aforesaid mer- 
chant. Proprietors of a certain tract of land on Shed's Neck, now called Ger- 
mantown of the one part, and Joseph Palmer, and Richard Cranch both of 
Boston aforesaid, card makers of the other part, witnesseth, that the said John 
Franklin, Norton Quincy, Peter Etter, Joseph Crellius and Isaac "Winslow, for 
and in consideration of the payment of the yearly rent and performance of the 
covenant and agreement hereinafter mentioned on the part of the said Joseph 
Palmer, and Richard Cranch, their heirs and assigns to be paid and performed, 
have and hereby do grant, bargain, sell and release, convey and confirm unto 
them the said Joseph Palmer and Richard Cranch, their heirs and assigns for- 
ever all those seventeen lots or parcels of ground being part of a certain tract of 
land on Shed's Neck, aforesaid, now called Germantown, situated and being in 
the town of Braiutree, in the County of Suffolk aforesaid, that is to say, two 
Lotts in Bern Square being numbered in the original general plan of German- 
town, aforesaid, No. one and fifty-two which are together butted and bounded 
as follows, viz : — Southerly by Sumner Street, and there measuring sixty feet, 
southwesterly by "Weymouth Street, and there they measured forty feet, north- 
westerly bj' lott No. two in Bern Square aforesaid, and there measuring sixty 
feet, and northwesterly by the lott No. fifty on Bern Square aforesaid and there 
they measure forty feet. Two other Lotts in Hanover Square, being numbered 
on said plan four and five which are together butted and bounded as follows, 
viz: — Southwesterly by Weymouth Street, and there they measure fifty-two 
feet, northwesterly by Lott numbered six in Hanover Square, aforesaid, and 
there they measure fifty-two feet, and southwesterly by lott number three on 
Hanover Square aforesaid, and there they measure fifty-two feet, and two other 
lotts in Hague Square being numbered on plan one and two, which are together 
butted and bovmded, viz: — Southeasterly on Winter Street, and there fifty feet, 
and southwesterly by Weymouth Street and there they measure fifty-two feet. 
Northwesterly by lott number three in Hague Square aforesaid, and there they 
measure fifty feet, northeasterly by lott number thirty in Hague Square, afore- 
said, and there they measure fifty-two feet, and also two other lotts in Zuric 
Square being numbered on said plan fourteen and fifteen, which said lotts are 



476 GLASS WORKS. 

to Gen. Josei^h Palmer and Mr. Richard Cranch, who were in- 
structed by the tenor of the lease to begin immediately building 
operations, which they did by having constructed chocolate 
mills, spermaceti and glass works, stocking weaving, salt man- 
together butted and bounded as follows, viz: — Southwesterly by Weymouth 
Street and there measuring forty feet, northwesterly by Winter Street and there 
they measure sixty feet, northeasterly by lott numbered sixteen in Zuric Square, 
aforesaid, and there they measured forty feet, and southeasterly by lott num- 
bered thirteen in Zuric Square aforesaid, and there measure sixty feet, also eight 
water lotts, opi^osite Menheim Square, being numbered on said plan, nine, ten, 
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen, which said lotts are 
together butted and bounded as follows, viz: — Northeasterly by southwest, 
Water Street, and there they measure one hundred and sixty feet, southeast by 
water lotts number eight opposite Menheim Square, aforesaid, and there they 
measure from southwest. Water Street the whole distance to low water be it 
more or less, southwesterly by the salt water, and there they measure one hun- 
dred and sixty feet at low water, and northwesterly by Pleasant Street, and 
there they measure from southwest Water street the whole distance to low water 
be it more or less, and also part of two other water lotts opposite to Menheim 
Square aforesaid being numbered on said plan seven and eight, which said part 
of said lotts are butted and bounded as follows, viz : — Northwesterly by south- 
west Water street and there it measures forty feet, southeasterly by water lott 
number six opposite Menheim Square and there it measures ninety feet, south- 
westerly by the other part of the aforesaid Water lott numbered seven and 
eight, and there it measures forty feet, and northwesterly by the aforementioned 
Water lott number nine, and there it measures ninety feet, together with all the 
ways, jiassages, waters, watercourses, priviledges, liberties, profits, commoda- 
tion, advantages, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever, to all and every 
or either of the said seventeen lotts of ground belonging or in any wise apper- 
taining as by survey on general plan on the records of the said original plan of 
said proprietors. The said Joseph Palmer and Richai'd Cranch, their heirs and 
assigns to the only proper use and behoof of them the said Joseph Palmer and 
Kichard Cranch, their heirs and assigns forever, yelding and paying thereof 
and thereunto the said John Franklin, Norton Quincy, Peter Etter, Joseph 
Crelliusand Isaac Winslow, their heirs and assigns, at or upon the twenty-fifth 
day of March forever, in every year from and after the twenty-fifth day of De- 
cember next ensuing the day of the date hereof, the yearly rent of five shillings 
sterling, lawful money of Great Britain, for each and every said seventeen lotts 
or the value thereof in current lawful money of the Province of Massachusetts 
Bay, aforesaid, unto such person or persons as shall from time to time be ap- 
pointed by them, the said proprietors, their heirs and assigns, to receive the 
same, and further the said Joseph Palmer and liichard Cranch, their heirs and 
assigns, making, erecting, building, finishing, upon some part of the above 
granted premises at their own proper cost and charges, one or more substantial 
dwelling house or houses, of no less value than fifty pounds sterling, with good 
chimney or chimnies of brick or stone, to be laid in or built with lime and sand, 



GLASS WORKS. 477 

ufacturing, in which common salt, medicinal salts and saltpetre, 
were manufactured. 

In the meantime a number of the German emigrants^ ordered 
by Mr. Crellius for his former plantations, had arrived at Boston, 
very poor, without friends or money, and in a suffering condi- 

-within the space of one year from the day of the date hereof, the said dwelling 
house or houses to he built agreeable to the plan and regulations fixed in said 
record for the building of houses at Germantown aforesaid, Provided, always, 
nevertheless that the yearly rent of five shillings per lott sterling, lawful money 
of Great IJritain, shall be paid, &c. 

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered, in the presence of Edward Winslow and John 
Winniett. Suffolk, Boston, Aug. 27th, 1752. 

" The above-named John Franklin, Isaac Winslow, Peter Etter and Norton 
Quincy, and Peter Etter as Attorney to Joseph Crellius, personally appeared 
and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their free act and deed. 
Coram. Joshua "Winslow, Justice of the Peace. Aug. 27th, 1752." — Suffolk 
Records, Lib. LXXXI, fol. 109. 

1. It appears that according to the agreement between the German emigrants 
and those who were to transport them to America, that their rations were to be 
of a substantial nature, and of a sufficient quantity; and also, that sanitary 
regulations were to be strictly attended to. 

" The said Isaac and Zachary Hope shall furnish us with a good, tight and 
commodious ship that sails well, and cause us to be transported on board of 
said ship to our destination. Fixed bed-rooms or cabin are to be made in the 
ship .six feet long and one and a half broad, for every whole freight. The said 
Isaac and Zachary Hope are to victual the ship with very good provisions, viz: 
Good Bread, Syrup, Butter, Cheese, Bear, Good Fish, Water and other neces- 
saries. The ship is to be purified twice a day with vinegar and juniper berries, 
and to cause fresh air to circulate freely through the ship, and every whole 
freight shall daily receive the following rations: — 

"Sunday, one pound of Beef boiled with Rice; Jlomlay, Barley and Syrup; 
Tuesday, one pound of Flour of Wheat; Wednesday, one pound of Bacon 
with Peas; Thursday, one pound of Beef boiled with Rice; Friday, one pound 
of Flour of Wheat and one pound of Butter; Saturday, one pound of Bacon, 
one pound of Cheese and six pounds of Bread for the whole week. Every day 
one quart of Bear (as long as it remains drinkable), and two quarts for every 
whole freight, whoever desires Brandy shall receive the same every morning, 
and such as love Tobacco shall have one pound for their journey, at their set- 
ting out. They shall have liberty in time of fair weather to dre.ss their victuals 
for them.selves and their children, and for that purpose to make use of the fire 
from six o'clock in the morning to si.x at night, and to be on deck. Such as are 
sick shall especially be entitled to have the use of the fire and water as often as 
they desire it. All sorts of Spices and Wine shall be put on board the ship to 
bo used for their refreshment, in order to tiike the better care of the sick."— 
Mass. Arch. 



478 GLASS -WOKKS. 

tion. To relieve them of their distress, the General Court, Jan. 
1st, 1752, passed an order requesting the commissary department 
of the Province to supply Mr. Peter Etter with beds and blank- 
ets for the "poor suffering Palitines," and if there was not a 
sufficient supply, the commissary Avas ordered to purchase the 
number required.^ 

Jan. 8th, 1752. Mr. Peter Etter, interpreter for the German 
and French Protestant emigrants, informed the Government that 
twelve of these families had concluded an engagement with 
Palmer and Cranch, at Braintree. It would seem from this 
account, that this was the first coming of the Germans to what 
is now Quincy, and quite agrees with the town records, as several 
months after, we find the following German marriages solem- 
nized by Col. John Quincy, recorded in the town records, viz : — 
George Mearsh (afterwards spelled Mears), and Mary Elizabeth 
Bebsten, Dec. 24th, 1752; Geo. Martin Stubing and Earnestian 
Gezer, March 6th, 1753 ; Frederick Syder and Christian Solomy 
Harskrthin, March 20th, 1753 ; George Briesner (now called 
Briesler), and Elizabeth Hai-dwig, Oct. 5th, 1753. The recent 
decease of Mr. John Briesler, the last of this old German family 
in the regular male line of descent, has caused the name to be- 
come extinct. We will not vouch for the correctness of the 
orthography of these names, but have given them as we have 
found them. 

"Nov. 27th, 1752, Mr. Isaac Winslow memorilised the Legis- 
lature to grant the company a patent for a term of years, for the 
reason of having been at an expense of hundreds of pounds ster- 
ling in erecting a glass-house at Germantown, and as they shall 
have to incur an expense of two thousand pounds sterling more 
before they can derive any advantage from glass making, they 
therefore aske this monopoly ; which was granted them." 

This right to the exclusive manufacturing of glass did not 

1. " The committee on emigration reported that the commissary be directed 
to supply Mr. Peter Etter with blankets and beds now in his hands, for the use 
of the poor Palitines who are now suffering by reason of the severity of the 
season, the blankets and beds to be returned when the Germans are done with 
them, and in case the commissary has not a number sufficient, he is then direc- 
ted to purchase so many as shall be wanted to enable him to comply with this 
order." — House Journal. 



GLASS WORKS. 479 

relieve their troubles. The Province and towns, at this time, 
were sparsely peopled, and the inhabitants were obliged to use 
the utmost frugality and industry to procure a subsistence ; they 
had not the means to enable them to support manufactories of 
this kind, and these several industries at Germantown soon be- 
came embarrassed for the want of business, and the destruction 
of their buildings by fire. These embarrassments caused Mr. 
Palmer, April 2d, 1756, to petition the General Court for assist- 
ance, by granting him the privilege of establishing a lottery or 
lotteries, for the purpose of raising the sum of twelve hundred 
and fifty pounds. 

The following are some of the reasons assigned why his peti- 
tion should be granted : — 

" Having been at great expense in carrying on manufacturing 
at a place called Germantown ; that he, with others, have suf- 
fered great loss by fire and otherwise, whereby they are wholly 
discouraged from proceeding further in the company's concerns. 
But being desirous of carrying on potash and cyder manufactor- 
ing, he has purchased a suitable piece of land and agreed with 
the workmen for this end ; but finding himself unable to execute 
his designs without some help, and j^raying such assistence (by 
way of a lottery or otherwise), as the Court shall deem meet." 
John Hartwig and others of said Germantown, petitioned in aid 
of said Palmer's petition, "We, the labourrers lately employed 
in the manufactories carried on there, setting fourth the diflicul- 
ties they are under by the means of the failure of the same, and 
praying their circumstances may be taken into consideration, 
and such assistance may be afforded to some meet person who 
shall undertake the same whereby they may be still continued 
in the business they for some time passed have been employed 
in, or that they may be otherwise relieved." Aug. 17th, 1756. 

Mr. Palmer's petition was called up in the house, and referred 
to the next setting of the Court. After a great deal of manage- 
ment and "log rolling," with both houses of the General Court, 
the bill was finally passed, April 25111, 1757, granting Mr. Palmer 
and others the right to establish a lottery,^ and the use of the 

1. *' An act for Raising a sum of money by Lottery for the encouragement 
of a settlement called Germantown in the town of Braintree :— 



480 GLASS WOEKS. 

Representatives' Hall in its recess, to draw the lottery or lot- 
teries in; also, the use of the Province boxes. By the provisions 
of this act, granting Mr. Palmer the right to establish a lottery, 
he was to employ at least twenty persons in his various factories, 
a list of whose names were to be transmitted yearly to the com- 
mander-in-chief, that they might be exempted from draft and all 
military duty. By the return made in accordance with the pro- 
visions of this act, in 1757, we are able to give all the names of 
the male members of this Colony, who were subject to mili- 
tary duty, viz : — John Peter Hartwig, Henry Hardwig alias 
Frederick Phillip Hardwig, John Hardwig, Philip Hardwig, 
Adam Hardwig, George Briesler, Geo. Martin Stubing, Henry 
Wansell, Conrad Schronteubrack, John Stole, Conrad Rach, 

" Whereas this court are willing to give due encouragement to such foreign 
Protestants as are come over the sea to reside within this Province, those who 
have particularly settled together in a place called Germantown within the 
township of Braintree in the County of Suffolk, and for divers years past have 
carried on certain Manufactures there, whereon they altogether depend for a 
Livelihood. And whereas Joseph Palmer of said Germantown, Gentleman, 
hath represented that said Manufacture, (particularly that of Glass) wherein he 
is principal adventurer, are by the consumption of some of the Buildings by 
Fire and otherwise, declined and gone to decay and hath therefore prayed for 
the aid of this Court. 

" Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives: — 
" That John Quincy, Josiah Quincy, Thomas Flucher and Isaac Winslow, 
Esq., with Edward Jackson, Merchant, all of the County of Suffolk, or any 
three of them, be and hereby are allowed and impowered to set up and carry on 
one or more Lottery or Lotteries, amounting in the whole to such a sum as 
by drawing or deducting ten per cent, out of the same, or out of each 
Prize or Benefit Ticket may raise the sum of Twelve Hundred and fifteen 
pounds, and no more, and that the said sum by them or aiiy three of them, ap- 
plied within twelve mouths from and after drawing the first Lottery aforesaid 
(in the first place) to the payment of the charges of such a Lottery or Lotteries, 
and then the remainder to the Erecting on the said Joseph's Land such Build- 
ings and conveniences, for carrying on the Mauufactury aforesaid, as by the 
said Joseph shall be thought most suitable for that purpose, and for Repairing 
such as remain unconsumed by Fire, and that the said John Quincy, Josiah 
Quincy, Thomas Flucher, Isaac Winslow, Esq., Edward Jackson, or any three 
of them, be the managers of said Lotterie and impowered to make all suitable 
and necessary Rules for the management thereof, and shall be sworn to the 
faithful Discharge of the said trust and as well as the said managers, as the said 
Joseph shall enter into Bonds of the Province Treasurer that the sum so raised 
shall be applied as soon as may be to the purpose designed as aforesaid, and 



GLASS WORKS. 481 

John Hilt, Jacob Lewis, George Smouse, David Vose, John 
Walter Roach, Martin Graynev, Buckhart Briesler, Andrew 
Winter, Jacob Buckhart. 

We have searched the records very carefully to find out the 
result of these lotteries, but have not been able to ascertain any- 
thing definite in reference to the matter. We are quite confi- 
dent that it proved a failure, as the company continued to strug- 
gle on in their embarrassments until 1760, when they mortgaged 
sixteen township lots to Mr. Flucher for eight hundred i:)0unds 
sterling. It was at this time that a complete failure took place, 
and this German Colony broke up, and a large portion of them 
went to their German friends at Broad Bay, now Woldoborough, 
in the State of Maine. This enterprize from the beginning, was 
unsuccessful and unremunerative, and must have occasioned a 
great loss to those who had invested their capital in it. The 
Avare manufactured here was of the coarsest of green glass, such 
as junk bottles, etc., for which there was no great demand, and 
the other manufactures proved equally as abortive. 

they shall be and are hereby declared answerable to the owners of the Tickets 
in case of any deficiency or misconduct. 

" And be it further enacted, That said Joseph shall give bond (with sufficient 
surities) of such Tenor and Form, as a committee of this Court (to be chosen) 
shall direct, for the carrying on the Manufacturies heretofore begun there, for 
the term of seven years next after the said Buildings and Conveniences are fin- 
ished, and that he, his Heirs or Assigns, will employ therein at least twenty 
Manufacturers, a list of whose names shall be transmitted yearly by the said 
Joseph, his Heirs or Assigns, sometime in the month of February, to the Com- 
mander-in-chief for the time being, which said twenty men shall be exempted 
from impress and all military duty so long as they continue in said Manufac- 
turies. 

" And be it further enacted. That if the said Joseph, his Heirs and Assigns, 
shall not carry on or cause to be carried on, the said Manufacturies for and dur- 
ing the term of seven years as aforesaid, in such a manner that at least twenty 
Manufacturers shall be therein employed, then and in that case the said Build- 
ing and Conveuieucies, together with the land whereon they shall be erected, 
shall become the Property of the Province, and the said Joseph, his Heirs or 
Assigns, execute and deliver to the Province Treasurer, for the time beinij, a 
sufficient Deed of Conveyance of such land and Premises for the use of the 
Province Treasurer, the net Proceeds of such Lottery or Lotteries at the election 
of said Joseph, his Heirs and Assigns. Provided that the Lottery or Lotteries 
hereby allowed shall not be set up before the first day of September."— Enacted 
April 25th, 1757. 

6^ 



482 GLASS WORKS. 

The tradition that the Germans who came to Braintree, now 
Quincy, Avere induced to by deception and unfair dealings, we 
think a mistake, for the reason that the company here hekl no 
large grants of land for the purpose of colonization. General 
Palmer and Mr. Richard Cranch, Avho had leased Germantown, 
were gentlemen of the highest character for honor and integrity, 
and above such sinister statements. Neither had they anything 
to do with the importations of these unfortunate emigrants, as 
those whom they had engaged to work for them had already 
arrived in Boston for the purpose of settling defunct townships 
in the western and eastern parts of the Province. Evidently 
this error grew out of the statements made by the Germans who 
had emigrated to this Province by the questionable induce- 
ments held out to them by deceptive advertisements circulated 
over a large part of Germany, to encourage them to come and 
settle these contemplated townships within the western and 
eastern frontier Province of Massachusetts. 

The German settlement in the State of Maine began some 
seven years previous to the attempt to colonize western Massa- 
chusetts. As early as 1742, Gen. Samuel Waldo having come 
in possession of a large patent of land in the then eastern fron- 
tier Province of Massachusetts,^ now in the State of Maine, 
through his agent in Germany, Mr. Sebastian Suberbuhler, in- 
duced a number of German families to come to this Province on 
certain conditions,^ which were agreed to, and they embarked 

1. Maine Hist. Coll., Vol. VI, p. 319; also, see map in Sullivan's History of 
Maine. 

2. "To His Excellency, the Governor of the Province of Massachusetts : — 
"The subscribers for themselves and their Palatine Brethren. 

"That your Petitioners are natives of Germany, where most of thera enjoyed 
houses and land, which they sold in order to settle in New England, upon the 
following conditions enumerated in a certain paper signed by Samuel Waldo, 
Esq., and Sebastian Suberbuhler, printed in high Dutch and dispersed in Ger- 
many, which conditions were, that Samuel AValdo, Esq., should provide a ves- 
sell or vessells at Kotterdam, for the Transportation of a number of Palatines to 
New England, and in case said vessell or vessells should not be ready to sail on 
eight days from the lime of the Palatines coming to liotterdam, then said Waldo 
was to pay them thirtj' pounds sterling per day Demurage, after the expiration 
of said eight days, and in case the vessells were retarded by the Palatines, then 
they were to pay said Waldo fifteen pounds sterling per day Demurage. 



GLASS WORKS. 483 

■from Holland, htkI .arrived at Marblehead in October, 1742, from 
whence they sailed to what pi-ovcd to have been the inhospitable 
shores of Broad Bay. On arriving there, they found no one to 
receive them, and they were obliged to make such arrangements 

" That Mr. Waldo, against their arrival at Broad Bay, in New England, Avas 
to build and finish at his own expense for their reception, two houses of tliirty- 
five feet square, two stories high, and also a Church ; on each of wliich houses 
he was to lay out one hundred pounds sterling, and on the Church two hundred 
pounds sterling. 

"That Mr. AValdo .should pay at his own cost, an Engineer, one hundred 
pounds sterling per annum, for the term of three years, a minister for seventy 
pounds sterling per annum, a schoolmaster, thirty pounds sterling per annum, 
each for the term of ten years. 

"That Mr. Waldo should have a convenient spot of Land plotted out for a 
town, in which each family should have lotted out one-quarter of an acre for a 
liouse lott, that sixty thousand acres should he laid out and appropriated for 
settling Palatines. 

" That INlr. Waldo should provide the following stock for their support, viz: — 
One hundred and twenty thousand pounds of Beef, twenty thousand pounds of 
pork, sixty thousand pounds of Flower, sixty thousand pounds of coarse Flower, 
four thousand Bushells of Indian Corn, four thousand Bushell of Salt, one-half 
to be delivered on their arrival, the other half in six months after, which was 
to be delivered in the following manner, viz: — To each person above ten years 
of age, one hundred and fifty pounds of Beef, fifty pounds of Pork, one hun- 
dred and fifty pounds of Flower, ten Bu.shell of Indian Corn, one Bushell of 
Salt; to each person under ten years, half of the Quantity. 

"That Mr. Waldo should supply each Family with a Cow and Calf, a sow, 
three axes, four hoes, one hand saw, and have laid out to each person fifty acres 
of Land. 

' ' These are the articles stipulated by Mr. Waldo. Those on the part of Sebas- 
tian Suberbuhler, were that the Palatines should pay Mr. Waldo a quit rent of 
two pence half penny sterling per acre, forever. Invited and Encouraged by 
these advantages, your Petitioners and their Countrymen left their native Land, 
and after having Encountered delay of eight weeks and three days, to their 
great impoverishment in the Elector of Cologns Territories by means of Sebas- 
tian Suberbuhler, who either could not, or would not, give security for your Pal- 
atines not being left in Holland. They embarked for New England, where they 
arrived at Marblehead, in October, from whence they sailed to the Eastward an 
Inhospitable Shore and a Waste Wilderness where there were few of the neces- 
saries of, and not one accomodation of Life, notwithstanding what was boasted 
to be done in the contract between Waldo and Suberbuhler, there not being so 
much as anything toward building either of the houses to shelter your unhappy 
Petitioners from the injuries of the weather at the most inclement Season of 
the year (the Winter), by which means some have found their (iraves there, 
amongst whom is our Elngineer, who has left a Disconsolate Widow with a fam- 
ily of helpless children, Whereof your Petitioners hen leave to lay their doplor- 



484 GLASS WORKS. 

for their comforts as this wild wilderness and their limited means 
would admit. After considerable suffering, finding that Mr. 
Waldo would not fulfil his agreement, they petitioned the Gov- 
ernor and Council for redress of grievances by having a ves- 
sel or vessels sent to Broad Bay and transj^ort them to Massa- 
chusetts Bay. This matter was referred to a committee 
appointed by the Legislature consisting of the following gentle- 
men, viz : — Col. Stoddard, Col. Joseph Gooch, Mr. Hutchinson, 
Col. Warren, Cai:)t. Cliote and such of the honorable board as 
would join them. This, like many jn-ivate or public disputes, 
amounted to nothing. After a second hearing the question was 
dropped on the plea of Mr. Waldo of breach of contract on the 
part of the Germans not paying their passage money before 
leaving Rotterdam. In 1753, Mr. Waldo's son went to Germany 
and held out such flattering inducements, that a large number 
of Germans came over. Mr. Waldo promised them one hundred 
acres of land free, and they were to be protected in the free 
exercise of their religious views. The woods were full of all 
kinds of game, and innumerable fish of the most delicious kinds 
were to be found in all the ponds and rivers, to which the 
sportsmen and anglers could have free access. Neither were 

able case before Your Excellency and Honours, which they are Encouraged to 
do when they know that the Fathers of this Land were Protestant strangers as 
are your Petitioners, and as your Petitioners have suffered uncommon hard- 
ships, loss and damage as aforesaid, and having been unhumanly treated by the 
said Mr. Waldo, who has failed in every part of his Contract with us, by which 
means we have lost our subsistance and are reduced to the Utmost penury and 
want. Therefore your Complainants, Strangers in the Land, destitute of all 
Friends, Most humbly pray your Excellency and Honours to whom they address 
themselves, as you are their Fathers in the State, that you be pleased to take 
their most deplorable and distressed circumstances, and of your great goodness, 
charity and compassion. Extend relief to them by sending a vessel at the Prov- 
ince Charge to bring them from the Eastern part, not being able to Defray the 
Charges themselves, that so they may be Employed in such business as they are 
capable of, for the support of themselves and their wives and children, and that 
your Excellency and Honours would be pleased to condescend that a Committee 
of this Honorable Court may appoint to Enquire into the primises and make a 
report thereon, and your Complainants as in duty bound shall ever pray. 
For himself and his Palatine Bretheren, 

DR. GODFUY KASH." 
—Mass. Arch., Vol. XV, p. o-L 



GLASS WORKS. 485 

they to be so unjustly treated as the Germans had been in 
Pennsylvania. As soon as one hundred families wcro convened 
together, they were to send a deputy to the General Court to 
represent them, and were to be exempted from all military duty. 
It is useless for us to recount the hardships and sufferings these 
pioneer emigrants endured, the destitution and wrongs they 
underwent by these gross misrepresentations. They and their 
sufferings have passed into the unseen world. 

Tradition relates that there was something of a romance con- 
nected with some one of the German emigrants that came to 
Quincy. One of the young men in his native country had been 
paying his addresses to a young lady of much promise, to whom 
he was very much attached, which was fully reciprocated by his 
friend Earnestin. Their union however was by the young lady's 
parents forbidden, still they continued to enjoy each other's 
company. The father soon found out that they were having 
clandestine interviews, and sent his daughter to some of her 
friends in a remote country; and instructed them to keep a close 
and constant watch over her and her communications. Not 
having for a long time received any tiding^ or intelligence from 
his beloved friend, he concluded that the report of her death 
was correct; life then became a bm-den to him, and his only 
desire was to leave his native country in hopes it might relieve 
the sorrowing anguish of his heart. One pleasant and beautiful 
morning he was passing the crowded streets of his native impe- 
rial free city of Frankfort, Avhcn near the Romer or old Town 
Hall, in this old quaint part of the city he discovered a large 
circular posted on one of the l)uildings, which announced that 
emigrants were wanted for America and the vessel would in a 
few days sail for its destination. He immediately returned 
home, and after a hasty preparation, was seen winding his way 
to Rotterdam with other emigrants, to embark in the ship 
for the wilds of America. Nothing of any note occurred on 
their tour to the shores of this country. Their disembarkation 
was on a beautiful autumn day, — the trees were adorned with 
all their gorgeous autumnal tints, making their landing upon a 
strange shore more agreeable. After remaining in Boston some 
time they were engaged by Palmer & Co., and went to German- 



486 GLASS WORKS. 

town. Weeks and months passed away, when one day while 
Fred., as he was called, was at his usual avocation weaving 
stockings, it was announced that a vessel had arrived with emi- 
grants from Germany. The whole Colony were soon congre- 
gated on the wharf to receive tidings from their native home, 
and shake the friendly hand of some old relative or neighbor. 
Fred, was there, a listless and idle observer. In viewing the 
strangers on board the vessel, at the first glance he caught the 
eye of his long lost friend. But a moment and they were 
embraced in each others arms ; we leave to the imagination of 
the reader the happy meeting of the friends. It was but a short 
time before they were united in the happy bonds of wedlock. 
From this union it is said one branch of the Hard wick family 
descended, and for a long time carried on stocking weaving on 
Franklin street. 

It appears by the folloAving petition, that at the period the 
glass works were first established, Mr. Josiah Quincy made an 
effort to have granted the privilege of carrying on a candle fac- 
tory under a new process: — "Dec. 12, 1752. Petition of Josiah 
Quincy, of Braintree,- Shewing that a jjerson lately from Eng- 
land, Well Skilled in the Art of Refining Sperma Caetia from 
the Oyle, and making the same into Candals, has applied to him 
for an Employment in the business. That he has invented a new 
Machine for the more easy expressing the Oyl from the Sperma, 
as also sundry Utensils never before used to the great improve- 
ment of that Manufacture." 

" March 30th, 1753. A Petition of John Surah, late of Great 
Britain, representing sundry Hardships he has suffered by the 
unjust Treatment of Mr. Josiah Quincy, of Braintree, and as he 
is a Stranger in the Country, he pray the Intoposition and Pro- 
tection of the Country for the reasons mentioned." — House 
Journal. 



"Gen. Joseph Palmer was born March 31st, 1716, at Higher 
Abbots row, in the parish of Shaugh, in the county of Devon- 
shire, in England. His mother's maiden name was Pearse, of 
the Pearses of Fardell Mill, in the i^arish of Cornwood, in the 



GLASS WORKS. 487 

same county. Botli families were of nnl)lemislie(l reputation, 
and though not opulent, were independent. 

"He was a man of good education and fine manners, and emi- 
grated to America in the year 174G, bringing with him the late 
venerable and highly respected Judge Richard Cranch, then a 
youth of twenty years old. Mr. Palmer had married the sister 
of Mr. Cranch, (Mary Cranch, of Brood, in the parish of Erming- 
ton, Devonshire.) 

"Mrs. Palmer was a woman of distinguished excellence, with 
a richly cultivated mind, and when the young couple embarked 
for this western world, she was as blooming and lovely as she 
was intelligent." 

Mr. Palmer was wealthy wdien he emigrated, and he, together 
with Richard Cranch, on their arrival, commenced business 
as cardmakers, on School street, Boston, and subsequently 
they leased a large tract of land of a company in the town 
of Braintree, which said company had named Germantown. 
"He erected a noble house for his own residence, but just as 
it Avas finished, and the cellars stored with provisions, a vicious 
boy whom he had punished for theft and lying, set it on fire. 
It was night ; nothing effectual could be done, and before the 
dawn of next day, this fine structure was in ruins. This was his 
first pecuniary loss. He soon erected another large and com- 
modious dwelling upon the site of the first one, and surrounded 
it with all the comforts that makes a country residence delight- 
ful. A beautiful orchard of his own planting, stretched from 
the back of his house to the shores of a little bay, on which his 
farm was located. This orchard contained two or three acres, 
which, with a fruit garden, a nursery of trees, a lai'ge poultiy 
yard, and an exquisite flower garden, successively caught and 
charmed the eye, as it ranged over the cultivated grounds, which 
the enterprising owner hoped to see enlarged into a settlement 
of free and independent artisans and manufacturers. His en- 
terprise and activity were even surpassed by his jdiilanthropy 
and benevolence. While he was surrounding his handsome res- 
idence with all the comforts and beauties which his easy fortune 
and refined taste enabled him to do with facility, — furnishing a 
well chosen and somewhat extensive library, and enjoying the 



488 GLASS WOEKS. 

pleasant neighborhood of the Quincys, Cranches and Adamses, 
he threw wide open the door of a general hospitality. This 
place in the course of time came to be known under the name of 
P^'riendship Hall, and it well deserved the title.^ 

"While in London, General Palmer had his portrait taken by 
the celebrated Copley, and sent to his family at Gerniantown. 
An anecdote, illustrating the perfection of this painting, and the 
exactness of the likeness, and which has been made to garnish a 
tale in one of our annuals, where it is told as pertaining to a 
fictitious personage, deserves to be repeated here, as it is charac- 
teristic of the man whom it relates. 

" The portrait arrived at the family mansion while he was yet 
absent, and was placed on the floor in the hall, and the work- 
men engaged in the several manufactories, to whom he was a 
father and friend rather than a master, were summoned by his 
family to contemplate the excellent likeness. While his family 
were contemplating the honest delight of the men, a favorite 
cat, which Gen. Palmer was in the habit of letting sit on his 
shoulder in domestic hours came into the room. She walked 
directly to the picture and attempted to climb upon the shoulder. 
Being reflected by the glass, (it was a crayon i^ainting,) she 

1. " The year 1765 was a sad one for Gen. Palmer and his friends, by reason 
of an event to which he was a party, and which caused life-long injury to the 
health of his favorite daughter, and bitter grief to himself and Col. Quincy, 
who was the unintentional but direct agent in the injury that was done. 

" The two gentlemen had just returned from a hunt, and had entered the par- 
lor of Gen. Palmer and deposited their guns. His oldest daughter, unaware of 
their presence, was reclining upon the lawn outside, reading. Her father was 
proud of her beauty and courage. She was in robust health and perfectly fear- 
les.s, and frequently rode into Boston to pay or receive money or attend to other 
commissions for her father, and returned after dark over lonely roads and re- 
gardless of inclement weather. The distance that she went was twelve miles. 
Gen. Palmer was sure that she could not be frightened and Col. Quincy declared 
that he could frighten her, and to settle the point the General permitted him to 
discharge his gun out of the parlor window and over the girl's head. The result 
was most melancholy; she was directly thrown into convulsions, which contin- 
ued for a long time. From that moment her health, both of body and mind, was 
broken. She became timid in storms and afraid of fire-arms. During her resi- 
dence at West Point, in 1790 and 1791, she was constantly apprehensive that the 
magazine would explode. 

" After more than twenty-five years invalidism, she died at that place at the 
age of forty-four." 



GLASS WORKS. 489 

went behind the frame, in order, as it would seem, to get upon 
his back, as she often did on that of the original." 

Gen. Palmer's house is still standing, and for some years was 
occupied by the Miss Sullivans. Subsequently it was purchased 
by the proprietors of Sailors' Snug Harbor, and is still owned 
by them. 

Mr. Palmer, in the beginning of the revolutionary trouble, 
espoused the cause of the Americans. He was very popular and 
influential in Braintree, and took an active part in all affairs per- 
taining to the revolutionary struggles. His son Joseph assisted 
in throwing the tea into Boston Harbor. 

In 1774, Mr. Palmer was chosen a delegate, with others, to the 
first Provincial Congress ; in which Congress he was appointed 
to act on most of the important committees. Immediately after 
the commencement of hostilities, he was appointed Major, 
by the Provincial Government, and shortly afterwards received 
a commission as General in the Continental Army, and took a 
part in the battle of Bunker Hill. 

"In the year 1778, Brigadier-General Palmer had command of 
an expedition whose object was to capture or dislodge the Brit- 
ish forces then occupying Rhode Island." The American army 
not being suitably prepared for this expedition. Gen. Palmer, in 
the council of officers, was opposed to this movement; being 
overruled in this council of war, they having decided to attack 
Rhode Island, he went with the expedition which proved disas- 
trous to the American forces. This failure of the Americans 
gave a pi-etext to Gen. Palmer's enemies to have him tried in a 
military court ; by this court martial he was fully and honorably 
acquitted. 

While Gen. Palmer was active in this military struggle, he 
expended from his private purse five thousand pounds sterling, 
for the public service. Ilis liberality we have heretofore spoken 
of when he presented to the town thirteen hundred and fifty 
dollars to procure soldiers for the army ; this large expenditure 
of money, with other losses during the war, caused him to 
become embarrassed. lie borrowed money from John Hancock, 
and this financial transaction, together with political misunder- 
standings, finally caused his utter bankruptcy and ruin. 
63 



490 GLASS WORKS. 

Being of an enthusiastic mind, he actively endeavored to save 
his property and retrieve his former social position in society, 
but was unable to do so. Mr. Hancock laid an attachment ujDon 
his property, and his fine estate was obliged to be sold. 

After Gen. Palmer had lost his property, he was allowed, 
through the kindness of President John Adams, to use one of 
his unoccupied dwellings, and subsequently he resided in a 
house belonging to his brother-in-law, Richard Cranch, where 
his wife died, Feb. 6th, 1790. 

Mr. Palmer petitioned the city of Boston for land on Boston 
Neck, for the purpose of establishing salt works ; while engaged 
in its construction, on a cold day he became chilled, and while 
sitting before a warm fire he was paralyzed in the organs of 
speech ; this paralysis soon became general, and everything that 
medical skill could do or suggest was done, but he did not rally, 
and on the 25th of December, 1788, he expired, and his remains 
were placed in the old burial ground on Boston Neck. 



Richard Cranch was the son of John Cranch, and was born in 
Kingsbridge, near Exeter, in Devonshire, England, November, 
1726. In early life he was bound as an apprentice to a maker 
of wool-cards ; being ambitious to engage in business for himself 
he, at the age of twenty years, purchased the remainder of his 
time. The New England Provinces being then comjjaratively a 
new country, seemed to open a fair field for a young man of his 
accomplishments to begin business for himself ; consequently he 
emigrated with Gen. Joseph Palmer, who had married his sister, 
for Boston, where he arrived in 1746. On his arrival at Boston, 
he commenced the business of wool-card making, on School 
street, nearly opposite where the City Hall now stands. 

In 1751, Ml*. Cranch and General Palmer leased of a company 
one hundred acres of land at Germantown, which said company 
had laid out into streets and squares, for erecting buildings for 
manufactory and other purposes, and called it Germantown. 

March 6th, 1760, Mr. Cranch sold all his right at Germantown 
to Mr. Palmer, and in 1781, purchased thirty-two acres of land, 
with building thereon, of Ebenezer Thayer, Ebenezer Miller, 
John Bass, Esq., Norton Quiucy and Nathaniel Wales, for 400 



GLASS WOEKS. 491 

pounds. This land, which goes by the name of the Cranch farm 
and on which the relics of his old cellar can be seen to this day, 
was formerly called " Stony Field," and is now in the possession 
of the Hon. Charles Francis Adams ; it is situated directly back 
of the " President's Hill," so called. Mr. Cranch subsequently 
sold his farm, and removed to the Virchild estate on School 
street, where he resided at a nominal rent until his death, when 
Mr. John Greenleaf bought the property. The place is now in 
the possession of Mr. James Edwards. 

Mr. Cranch, being of a literary turn of mind and an extensive 
reader of books, became a learned man, especially in theology, 
and there were very few clergymen in New England at that 
time more familiar with ecclesiastical matters than he was ; he 
received an honorary degree of A. A. S., in 1780, from Harvard 
University, and represented the town in the Legislature ; he 
was the Justice that called the first town meeting in Quincy 
after it was incorporated, and to him was given the honor of 
naming the town, which he called Quincy. Mr. Cranch was 
appointed the first postmaster in Quincy in 1795 ; he was also 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Massachusetts. 

Mr. Cranch married Mary, the eldest daughter of the Rev. 
Wm. Smith, of Weymouth, in 1762; she was sister to Abigail, 
who married President John Adams. The following traditional 
anecdote is related in reference to these marriages : — " Mr. 
Smith, upon the marriage of his eldest daughter, preached to 
his people from the text in the forty-second verse of the tenth 
chapter of Luke, — 'And Mary hath chosen that good part, 
which shall not be taken away from her.' Two years elapsed 
and his second daughter was about to marry John Adams, then 
a lawyer in good practice, when some disapprobation of the 
match appears to have manifested itself among a portion of his 
parishioners. The profession of law was for a long period in 
the Colonial history of Massachusetts, unknown, and after cir- 
cumstances called it forth, the prejudices of the inhabitants, who 
thought it a calling hardly honest, were arrayed against those 
who adopted it. There are many still living, who can remember 
how strong the bias was against lawyers even doAvn to about the 
time of the adoption of tlie present Federal Constitution, 



492 GLASS WORKS. 

" Besides this, the family of Mr. Adams, the son of a small 
farmer of the middle class in Braintree, was thought hardly good 
enough to match with the minister's daughter, descended from 
so many of the shining lights of the Colony. It is probable that 
Mr. Smith was made aware of the opinions expressed among his 
people, for he is said, immediately after the marriage took place, 
to have replied to them by a sermon, the text of which, in evi- 
dent allusion to the objection against lawyers, was drawn from 
Luke VII : 33. ' For John came neither eating bread nor drink- 
ing wine, and ye say. He hath a devil.' " 

Mr. Cranch died at his residence on School street, Oct. 16th, 
1811, aged about eighty-five; his wife died the next day, the 
17th; both were buried on the 19th. The Rev. Peter Whitney 
preached a sermon on the occasion, which was published. Mr. 
Cranch left an honored and somewhat distinguished family ; his 
son William Avas born 1769, and graduated at Harvard Universi- 
ty in 1787. On leaving college he studied law in the office of 
Judge Dawes of Boston. After acquiring his profession, he 
began the practice of law in Braintree, near Quincy, where he 
remained but a few months. Considering that Haverhill would 
be a more successful place for the practice of law, he removed 
there, where he remained up to 1794. After having been sworn 
into the Supreme Court he took up his residence at Washington, 
D. C. On the last day of President John Adams' administration, 
he Avas appointed Justice of the District Court of Columbia. 
After the death of the Chief Justice of the Court, Mr. Cranch 
was selected to succeed him, which position he ably filled and 
administered the oath of office to all the Presidents of the United 
States from the time he was appointed until his death, which 
occurred Sept. 1st, 1855, at the age of eighty-six. 



SHIP BUILDING. 



Ship building was first carried on in Braintree at Ship Cove, 
Knight's Neck, now called Quincy Neck. The first vessel we 
find that was built there was the Unity, in 1696, and was con- 
structed for the fishing trade, as most of the ketches were at that 
period. From that time to this, vessels at stated and various 
periods have been built in this neighborhood, but the greater 
amount of tonnage has been constructed at Quincy Point. The 
most noted master ship builders, who have been engaged in this 
business here, were Mr. Daniel Briggs, Mr. John Souther, James 
Brothers, Mr. Josselyn, Mr. Peleg F. Jones and the present Dea- 
con Thomas. 

The most noted and largest ship built at this early date, in 
Massachusetts, was constructed at Germantown. Mr. Eli Hay- 
den was the contractor, and Capt. Wm. Hackett, of Amesbury, 
was the draughtsman. The master builder was Mr. Daniel 
Briggs, of the noted Briggs family who were largely engaged 
in ship building. This family originated in Pembroke, Ply- 
mouth County. Daniel and his five brothers were employed in 
the construction of the old Massachusetts. The buildinjr of so 
large a ship was quite an undertaking at this time, and so great 
was the novelty, that when the time came for her departure 
from her blockings and ways, hundreds of people came here 
from adjacent towns to see her launched. She dipped grace- 
fully into her mother element, amid the exultant congratula- 
tions of the assembled multitude, in September, 1789, and the 
bottle smasher christened her by the name of Massachusetts. 

The dimensions of this ship were as follows, viz : — Length of 
keel, 116 feet; length of beam, 36 feet, 10 inches; lower hold, 
13 feet, 6 inches ; depth of lower deck, 5 feet, 10 inches ; gun 
deck to upper, 6 feet, 6 inches; gunwale, 1 foot, 6 inches; length 
of foremast, 81 feet, and 27 inches in diameter ; mainmast, 84 



494 SHIP BUILDING. 

feet, and 28 inches in diameter; mizenraast, 70 feet, and 20 
inches in diameter ; foretopmast, 48 feet, and 15^- inches in diam- 
eter; maintoi^mast, 50 feet, and 15^ inches in diameter; mizen- 
topmast, 36 feet, and 12 inches in diameter; fore yard, 68 feet; 
main yard, 74 feet; mizen yard, 62 feet; spritsail yard, 50 feet; 
foretopsail yard, 48 feet ; maintopsail yard, 50 feet ; mizentop- 
sail yard, 87 feet; cross-jack yard, 50 feet. 

The Massachusetts was built for Shaw and Randall, expressly 
for the Canton trade, and was pierced or arranged for thirty-six 
guns, but only carried an armament of twenty six-pounders and 
other musketry. 

Sailors were at that time largely possessed of and influenced 
by superstitious notions, and Moll. Pitcher, of Lynn, a noted 
fortune teller, so played on their credulity that three crews were 
shipped before one could be procured to sail in her ; as she had 
prophesied that all who should embark in her would bring up in 
Davy Jones' locker. This sort of a voyage the credulous sea- 
men desired to steer clear of ; hence the trouble of getting a 
crew to man her. 

The great benefit of ventilating ships' holds on long voyages, 
in this early time of navigation, was not so well known by shij)- 
masters as it has been since. The hatches of the Massachusetts 
were caulked down and not opened until her arrival at Canton. 
On opening them, to their surprise, the air was found so impreg- 
nated with poisonous gas, that a lighted lamp, on being lowered 
into the hold, was immediately extinguished, and the four or 
five hundred barrels of beef stored there was found to be nearly 
boiled and ready for consumption. This voyage of the Massa- 
chusetts not being financially successful, she was sold to the 
Danish East India Company, at Canton, for $65,000, and Mr. 
Delano, her second ofiicer, relates that he " hauled down her 
colors, for the Danes to raise theirs." 

Jobe Prince, Esq., was commander of the Massachusetts on 
her first vogage, with the following officers and crew : — Four 
mates, one purser, one surgeon, three midshipmen, five carpen- 
ters, three boatswains, one gunner, two stewards, one cooper, 
four quartermasters, one servant of the owner, tAvo cooks and 
forty-two seamen; making a total of seventy besides the captain. 



SHIP BUILDING. 495 

While in the port of Canton she was visited by the naval 
officers of England, France and Holland, and by them much 
admired for her naval architecture. 

This account of the old Massachusetts is compiled from Capt. 
Amasa Delano's Voyages. 

Mr. John Souther^ came to Quincy in 1815, and commenced 
ship building. He established his yard at what is called South- 
er's wharf, on Town River bay, where he for years successfully 
carried on business. The next shipwright of any note was Mr. 
Nathan Josselyn, who had learned his trade of Mr. Souther. Mr. 
Josselyn's yard was located a short distance above the Point 
bridge. Mr. Peleg F. Jones also carried on the business of ship 
building at the Point. Small crafts were occasionally built in 
this locality until Mr. Thomas, of Rockland, Maine, came to the 
Point and began the construction of vessels there in 1854. 

During the twenty-four years Mr. Thomas has been engaged 
in the shipwright business at the Point, he has built nineteen 
fine large ships, some of which have not been surpassed in mak- 
ing raj^id voyages ; he has also constructed one brig and six 
schooners. Their tonnage ranged from two hundred and twen- 
ty-five to two thousand two hundred, making in the aggre- 
gate about thirty-five thousand tons. 

The following are the names of the vessels built at Quincy 
Point by Deacon Thomas : — 

Ships, — King Philip, Shakespeare, Magdalen, Athena, Gei'- 
bain, Logan, Upton, E. H. Taylor, Maritana, Dexter, C. Lulin, 

1. Mr. John Souther was born at Hingham, Sept. 13, 1781, and received his 
education at the Derby Academy of that town. After leaving school he com- 
meuced an apprenticeship with his father at the shipwright trade. On becoming 
of age he was admitted as partner with his father in the ship building business, 
in 1807, where he remained uutil 1815, when he came to Quincy and established 
business for himself. Mr. Souther was a careful and successful business man ; 
so much so was this the case, that the town selected him as one of the Select- 
men and Assessors for nine years; Representative to the Legislature five years; 
School Committee two years; and he served on many prominent committees in 
town affairs. On retiring from business, he removed to Boston and there 
l)leasantly enjoyed the remaining portion of his days. Mr. Souther's death 
occurred March 28th, 1878, at the age of 9G years, (5 months and 15 days, and 
was buried at Hingham. He was married to Lydia Nichols Lincoln, of Hing- 
ham, Jan. L'Oth, 1805, who died.in Quincy, July IDth, 1850, aged 73. 



496 SHIP BUILDING. 

Mauran, Geo. Griswold, Belle Creole, Imperial, Northern Light, 
Triumphant, America and Red Cloud. 

Brig, — J. L. Bowen. 

Schooners, — D. H. Bills, J. L. Newton, Nellie Brown, Addie 
Walton, Angle Amesbury, Lucy D. and Montana. 

In 1877, Mr. Tliomas, at the ripe old age of eighty-two, 
modeled and built a ship of twenty-two hundred tons, which is 
a remarkable instance of vitality and energy, considering the age 
of this gentleman. Mr. Thomas' yard is located on Granite 
wharf. 



STONE aUARRYING. 



Syenite and granite, for building and monumental purposes, 
have been used from a very remote period, as can be seen in old 
Thebes, a city famous for its antiquity, and long the capital of 
Egy])t, which presents among its ruins the finest collection of 
ancient monuments, obelisks, magnificent temples erected for 
the dead, whose interior arrangements were supported by hun- 
dreds of immense sculjjtured stone columns. Back of these teni- 
})lcs were sepulchral caves, numerous as the cells of bees, close 
beside each other, either dug in the rocky plain, or hewn in the 
adjacent extensive limestone hills, and extending in space of 
time back thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Polish- 
ing stone was known to the ancients, as the material of which 
these old tombs at Thebes were built, was found to have been 
polished. 

Syenite, which is the character of stone quarried in Quincy, 
is composed of quartz, felspar and hornblende. The difference 
between syenite and granite is, that the former contains horn- 
blende instead of mica, and received its name from the city of 
Syene, Upper Egypt, where large quarries of it caii be found of a 
pinkish hue, but more recent investigations have proved that the 
ancient syenite is only granite "with black mica, and not horn- 
blende, as was supposed. Syenite is of various colors, pink, gray, 
and white. The pink or red hue is produced by the predomi- 
nance of orthoclase, or a chemical combination of soda, potash 
and oxyd of iron ;^ the white, of albite ; the gray, of the various 

1. " Iron is Nature's luiiversal dye. "Without it the soil would be a dirty 
white, the color of snow in a time of thaw. Instead ,of the pietty, lively color 
of .sand and pebbles, we should .see the dull and sombre hue of a.shes; and 
instead of the glittering sands of the sea and lake shore, a plain drab or gray, 
which no wealth of sunshine or of 8j)ray could turn to beauty. The slates used 
for roofing have a warm rich tint; oxyd of iron puts vermillion into them as it 

64 



498 STONE QUAlUtYING. • 

combinations of felspar, wliicli vary tlie sliades of color from 
light to (lark. 

Kuskins makes the following allusions to the healthfulness and 
purity of the landscape in granite regions : — " It is remarkable 
how this intense purity in the country seems to influence the 
character of its inhabitants. It is almost impossible to make a 
cottage built in a granite country look absolutely miserable. 
Rough it may be, — neglected, cold, full of aspects of hardships, 
but it never can look foul, no matter how carelessly, how indo- 
lently, its inhabitants may live; the water at their doors will not 
stagnate, the soil at their feet will not allow itself to be trodden 
into slime, they cannot so much as dirty their face or hands, if 
they try. Do the worst they can, there will still be a feeling of 
firm ground under them, and pure air about them, and an inher- 
ent wholesomeness, which will need the misery of years to con- 
quor. The inhabitants of granite countries have, too, a force 
and healthiness of character about them, abated or modified 
according to their other circumstances of life, that clearly dis- 
tinguishes them from the inhabitants of less pure districts." 

The first building of any architectural jiretensions constructed 
out of Quincy syenite, was King's Chapel, erected on the corner 
of School and Tremont streets, Boston, Massachusetts, in 1752. 
Divine service was first held, Aug. 21st, 1754. This church 
was built of coarse, rough boulders, scattered about and dug 
out of both the North and South Commons. Syenite of the 
North Commons, even at this early i)eriod, Avas considered more 
suitable for building purposes and a higher jjrice was charged for 
it. The method of splitting this material for the construction 
of this church was in the most primitive and curious manner. 
It was accomplished by heating the stone, by building a fire upon 
it, and then letting large iron balls fall upon it. Mr. John Hay- 
does into our bricks, wliich else would be only a plain pepper and salt. The 
ruddy liuesof brown now seen in ploughing sandy fields, contrasting so richly 
with the green of woods and meadows, would be, without the iron, only the cold 
repulsive gray of clayey soils. Many marbles, too, are colored with this same 
familiar dye. The violet veinings and variegations of the marble of Sicily and 
Spain, the glowing orange and amber of Sienna, the blood-red color of precious 
.Jasper that enriches the temple of Italy, are all [)aiuU3d with iron rust," as well 
as many other x^recious stones. 



STOXE QUABRYING. 499 

ward and Mr. Hunt, of Braintree, received the contract for fur- 
nisliing the material for the erection of this edifice.^ 

The old John Hancock house that stood just south of the 
State House, on Beacon street, Boston, was built of the same 
kind of stone. This house of Gov. Hancock was taken down 
some years since. 

In 1774, the old powder house which stood on the northwest 
corner of a lot of land belonging to the celebrated artist, Cop- 
ley, in what was at that time called West Boston, near Pinckney 
street, was built of this material, and its walls were constructed 
seven feet in thickness. 

Some years previous to this time, the method of disposing of 
these stones, and also preventing the exhaustion of these rough, 
coarse boulders for building purposes, was the great topic and 
exciting question at the annual town meetings, and gave the 
town orators an opportunity to display their powerful eloquence, 
and the magistrates and lawyers, with their usual profundity, to 
enlighten the citizens on the laws of trespass and the rights 
of commonage. 

At length the inhabitants became somewhat alarmed that the 
drain created by the use of these boulders for building, would 
not leave them enough to build a common stone wall, or con- 
struct a house cellar. To protect themselves from these inva- 
sions upon their property, they established the following rules : — 
" 1715. Voted, That no person shall dig or carry off any stone 

1. "The comer stone of King's Chapel was laid by Governor Shirley, Aug. 
11, 1749. At this ceremony the Governor gave the -workmen twenty pounds 
(old tenor) to celebrate his health in accordance with the custom of the times. 
This chapel, which was the second one erected by this society, (the first being 
built of wood, ) was to be of Quincy, or at that time, Braintree stone, and the 
material was taken from the boulders of the South and North Commons, and 
was to cost twenty-five thousand pounds, and the building of it was not to com- 
mence until ten thousand pounds were subscribed. Governor Shirley and 
Peter Faueuil were among the heaviest contributors. For the want of funds 
the construction of the church was delayed for some time before the chapel was 
completed; during this delay the society applied for the use of the old South 
Church on Christmas day. The prejudice of the times was so strongly opposed 
to the obser\-ance of this holy day of the church, that a verbal answer wa.s 
returned to them, that they could have the church on the condition that tliey 
would not decorate it with spruce." 



500 STONE QUARRYING. 

on the said commons or nndivided lands, npon any account 
whatever, without license from the committee hereafter named, 
upon penalty of the forfeiture of ten shillings for every and each 
cart-load so dug and carried away; one-quarter part to be to 
said committee in full satisfaction for the use of the town. The 
instructions to the committee were as follows : — 

" First, — That the committee shall give no license to any and 
every person to dig or carry off any stone from said land, to 
make sale or merchandise thereof, without the town's direction. 

" Secondly, — That the committee may and shall license to any 
and- every person in the town for such a quantity of stone, as he 
or they shall stand in need of, for their own ]>roper use in the 
town. 

" Thirdly, — That the committee shall or may seize all stone 
that they shall find dug or carted on and off said common lands, 
the digger or carter Avhereof is not known, and the same dis- 
posed of to the best advantage for the town, by sale or other- 
wise, deducting one-quarter part thereof to themselves, in full 
satisfaction as above said." 

For years after, the same complaint was made at the annual 
town meetings, that it was impossible for the town to enforce 
the rules they had adopted. 

The inability to execute these regulations was probably caused 
to some extent by the more liberal vie^vs of its citizens who 
opposed it, and who were not in harmony with those who advo- 
cated and sustained these rigid rules. Tliey doubted the feasi- 
bility and justice of passing such onorous laws, depriving them 
of the use of stone for common purposes, and at a meeting held 
in 17'20-30, they were prompted to dissent from the action of 
the meeting. This, eventually, no doubt, was the cause why the 
town was obliged to sell the North and South Commons in 1762 
and 1765. 

1729-30. At this meeting it was voted, " That no person be 
allowed from lienceforth to take stone for his own use from off 
tlie common for building, fencing or the like, without first giving 
notice to a committee by the town appointed, of his so doing, 
and rendering a true account of their quantity, and how he dis- 
posed of them. Then voted, that there be five persons of a 



STONE QUARRYING. 501 

committee, any three of which sliall be a quorum, anrl Init three 
paid. The following persons being then nominated to be the 
committee, were voted for singly, viz. : — Mr. Thomas White, 
Mr. Benjamin Luddin, Mr. Benjamin Neal, Mr. Joseph Crosby 
and Mr. Ebenezcr Thayer. Against the vote and order above 
said, after some of them had been decided by polling, and after 
one of the committee was chosen, the following entered their 
dissent : — 

" Joseph Pray, Christopher Webl), Moses Belcher, Jr., Moses 
Paine, Thomas Copeland, Stephen Cleverly, Samuel Arnold, 
Joseph Tower, Samuel Cleverly, John French, Moses Belcher, 
Joseph Brackett, Moses Paine, Jr., Dcpendance French, William 
Belcher, Ephraim Arnold, John Curtis, Nathaniel Belcher, Elka- 
nah Wales, Abijah Allen, Benjamin Allen, Jr., Benjamin Paine, 
Jonathan Hayden." 

Xot much thought had been given to the stone quarries until 
the early jiart of the present century, Avhen Jackson Field, Jo- 
siah Bemis, Wm. Wood^ and AVra. Packard first began to open 
quarries for the purjiose of carrying on the stone business. They 
may be considered the first persons who established the stone 
business in a legitimate manner in this town, but it was in a 
very small way, as there was no great demand for large building 
stones ; and if there had been, they would not have been able to 
supply the material for the want of proper apparatus and ma- 
chinery for lifting and hoisting large blocks of granite. The 
stone quarried at this time was principally for underi)innings, 
door steps, etc. 

In 1822, the question began to be agitated in regard to erect- 
ing a monument on Bunker Hill, in commemoration of/ this 
American marathon. After the committee had been chosen on 
the design, they finally agreed with Mr. Willard'^ that it should 

1. Williatu "Wood was accidentally killed by the falling of a stone upon him. 

2. Solomon AVillard was not a native, hut a voluntary citizen of (Juincy, 
coming here in 1825, to construct the Bunker Hill IMonunient— the great, and to 
him the greatest episode of his life. Mr. Willanl was horn at Pctcrshain, "Wor- 
cester County, Massachusetts, on the 2(lth of June, 17.S3. His father, known 
as Deacon AVilliam Willard, was a native of Biddeford, Maine. Ho received 
his early education at the country school of that day, which consisted of six 
months in the year. 



502 STONE QUARKYING. 

be in the style of an obelisk. This design having been agreed 
upon, the next question of importance was tlie selection of a 
suitable architect and superintendent for the construction of this 
patriotic and noble enterprise. At the first meeting of the com- 

At the age of twenty-one, he bade his native home farewell, and in October, 
]S04, came to Boston, not as many do, " waiting for something to turn up," but 
rather to turn something up, and see what perseverance, energy and activeyn- 
dustry might accomplish. Here he commenced the trade of a carpenter, and 
Avith his broad axe and willing heart, he began with fitting a set of piles for the 
building of a wharf, at iifty cents per day and board. His employers were 
Pond & Gale, for whom he worked ten days. 

The first year of Mr. Willard's residence in Boston, he worked for several 
parties; and after settling his personal expenses, as well as the purchase of 
tools, books, etc., Salmon ISIorton, on the I'ith of Oct., 1805, paid him two hun- 
dred dollars for eight months' work. At this time he made his first investment 
by a loan of two hundred and five dollars, to William Willard, which was after- 
wards paid by installment. 

In 1808, Mr. "Willard was employed as a carpenter on the famous Exchange 
Coffee House, an immense and costly edifice extending from Congress to Dev- 
onshire .street. " This building combined the Merchants' Exchange and Hotel. 
There were in this building three principal staircases, of which the grand spiral 
pile, on the southerly side of the building, which extended from the basement 
story to the roof, and intended especially for the hotel, was built by Mr. Wil- 
lard, and was the work of considerable calculation, judgment and skill, in the 
joiner's art. Probably there was no piece of joiner's work in the country at 
that time, which would compare with it in spaciousness, architecture or finish." 
This building was seven stories high, and most elaborately finislied. It was 
destroyed by fire on the 3d of Nov., 1818, and the light of the conflagration was 
seen at a distance of one hundred miles from Boston. In the mean time, Mr. 
Willard had been improving his mind by the study of architecture and per- 
spective drawing; he also acquired a knowledge of the French language, and 
attended anatomical lectures. So noted had he become as a carver, that he 
was constantly employed. Among his works were the Ionic capitals for the 
Brighton meeting-house; Ionic and Corinthian capitals for Park-street Church, 
Boston; also, for Dr. Channing's Church, on Federal street, Avhich has since 
been taken down. In 1810, he carved a colossal spread eagle, which was placed 
on the old Custom House in Boston. It is now to be seen on the United States 
Bonded Warehouse. He executed another eagle to adorn the Beacon Hill Mon- 
ument; when this monument was taken down, the eagle was suspended in the 
Kepresentatives' Hall of the State House. 

In 1813, he connected ship carving with his profession. His master-piece of 
this kind of work was the large bust of Wasliingtou, executed by him in 181(), 
for the 74-gun ship, Washington, l^reviously, ISlr. Willard had been engaged 
in his profession at Washington, Baltimore, Philadcli)hia and New York. In 
1818, Mr. Charles Bulfinch, the architect of the capitol at Washington, engaged 
Mr. Willard to construct a model of the capitol building. 



STONK QUARRYIXC;. 503 

niittee, they made the judicious selection of Mr. Solomon Wil- 
lard for that purpose, Oct. 31st, 1825. As soon as Mr. Willard 
liad been selected for this important trust, he found that the 
arduous task of selecting a sufficient amount of appropriate 
material for its construction devolved u{)on him. He declared 

In addition to many other models of public buildings in various parts of the 
country, that Mr. Willard was called upon ,to execute, was the plaster models 
of the old Koman pantheon and parthenon of exact proportions, which were 
used by Mr. Edward Everett, in a course of lectures delivered by him in 1821-2. 
We believe these models are yet to be seen in the basement room of the Boston 
Athena?um. Mr. Willard was called upon to design and execute work for all 
the principal buildings in the early part of the present century, in connection 
with which, he taught at his studio, lessons in architecture; lie was also one of 
the original projectors of the Merchants Institution of Boston in 182G. In 1825, 
he became a member of the Charitable Mechanic Association. After laying 
aside the foreplane and broad axe and entering upon the higher branches of 
mechanical art, architecture, sculpture and modelling, the idea occurred to him 
that one important matter connected with his profession had been neglected. 
That was the inadequate and unsatisfactory system that had been adopted for 
heating large public buildings, and making the better class of dwelling-houses 
more comfortable in the extreme weather of our winters; upon this idea he went 
to work and made a model for the construction of an apparatus for producing 
artificial heat, and ventilating the various apartments of the building. Thus to 
Mr. Willard belongs the honor of being the first inventor of the Hot Air Fur- 
nace, upon which he charged no royalty; if he had, he might have become quite 
wealthy, as the furnace became popular and was extensively used. The manu- 
facturer of these furnaces, Mr. Daniel Safford, of Boston, with his assistant 
workmen was employed night and day in supplying the market. These f urnace.s 
were placed in the Old South, St. Paul's, Dr. Lowell's and other churches; also 
in the United States Capitol at Washington ; they were constructed mostly for 
wood, as fuel. Anthracite coal was little in use at this time, 182.3. In 1820, 
three years previous, only three hundred and sixty-five tons of anthracite coal 
was used in the whole country. 

Improvements have been made in the construction of Hot Air Furnaces. 
Mr. Willard's furnace to some extent continued to be manufactured up to 1840. 

The crowning glory of Mr. Willard's life was when the distinguished com- 
mittee on the Bunker Hill Monument, accepted his plan and adopted his 
suggestions for the construction of the monument, although many have tried to 
rob him of this honor. Mrs. Lee, in her " Familiar Sketches of Sculpture and 
Sculptors," states as follows: — " It is well known that Horatio Greenough fur- 
nished the design for the Bunker Hill Monument, though at that time an 
undergraduate of Harvard College; it was forwarded to the Board of Directors 
with an essay, and fiiuilly accepted." We have omitted to relate in this note 
his adventure in the stone business, as it is enumerated in the text. 

After the construction of the monument, Mr. Willard spent the remaining 
portion of his (luiet bachelor life, in West Quincy, iu connection with the stone 



504 STONK QUARRYING. 

this Avas oue of tlife most laborious and difficult undertakings in 
connection with the building of the obelisk, for the reason that 
the use of stone for building purposes was little known, or not 
known at all in the form of large-sized blocks of syenite, as he 
desired for this object. Mr. Willard immediately commenced 
his explorations for this project, and after having walked three 
hundred miles, critically examining quarries in various places, 
finally decided for color, durability and all other requirements 

business, excepting a year or two of the latter part of it, when his time was 
mostly taken up with experiments in agricultural chemistry. He was a great 
follower of Liebig, the noted German chemist. Before commencing his agri- 
cultural juirsuits in West Quincy, which was an unhealthy part of the town, its 
inhabitants (.lying oif like sheep, with dysentery and typhoid fever, ISIr. Willard, 
by irrigating, clearing up and draining the swampy low lands of this section of 
the village, caused it to become as healthy as any other part of the town. 

Mr. Willard was a fair example of a self-educated man ; retiring in his liabits 
of life, yet always willing to converse and freely impart instruction or knowl- 
edge to any one who desired it, and strongly opposed to all ostentation or 
flattery ; this point is well illustrated in the following communicatiim with Mr. 
Edward Everett; the correspondence occurred in reference to what Mr.M'illard's 
fee was for a plan of his, which had been adopted by the buildiug committee, 
for a monumeutto be erected at the " Old North Bridge" in Concord, Mass., in 
commenunation of a skirmish there in Ilevolutionary times. The following is 
Mr. WilliU'd's characteristic reply : — " I did not think of making any charge, 
and am sorry you should give yourself any trouble about it." He further says 
in the same note, — " Many of my friends are in the habit of adding an Esq. to 
my name in the superscription of their letters, supposing me possessed of the 
little vanity which it would gratify, but as I have no claim to such distinction, 
it would bo more pleasing to have it omitted." This request was ever after 
scrupulously complied with by Mr. Everett. Mr. Willard had, in his humble 
and unostentatious way, been a great friend to education, and the citizens of 
West Quincy did him no more than simple justice, when they honored him by 
calling the school-house erected in that district, after the person who had done 
so much for their welfare. 

On the morning of the twenty-seventh of February, 18()1, Mr. Willard, when 
about to take his place at the breakfast table, was stricken with apoplexy, and 
in about twenty minutes' quietly expired. His death caused sudden and sad 
gloom to come over the village of his residence, and his funeral was attended 
with every degree of respect; the schools were dismissed, the bells tolled, and 
the school children, with all the citizens of West Quincy, in sad and solemn 
procession, while the band played a dirge, proceeded to the Hall Cemeterj^, 
where all that was once mortal of Solomon Willard was deposited, and the 
rejected shaft of the New York Exchange, which some years previous he had 
unaided placed there, is erected near the last resting place of this public-spirited 
man, and benefactor of the town. 



STONE QUARKYING. 505 

desired of stone for the erection of this monument, that tlie 
Quincy syenite was the best. The quarry approved of by Mr. 
Willard was what is called the Bunker Hill Quarry, and con- 
sisted of four acres. It was purchased in June, 1825, by Mr. 
Gridley Bryant, of Mr. Frederick Hardwick, for which was paid 
two hundred and fifty dollars, and sold by Mr. Bryant to the 
company for a slight advance. Previous to this, INlr. Amos 
Lawrence, one of the building committee, had also purchased 
a quarry at Rockport, Cape Ann, for building the monument. 
This quarry, not being considered as desirable for the purpose as 
the one selected by Mr. Willard, was given up. If the quarry 
purchased by Mr. Lawrence had been of the desired quality, it 
would in all probability have been many years before the quar- 
ries of Quincy stone would have achieved their present celebrity. 
The opening of these stone quarries led to the discovery and 
opening of other quarries which had laid dormant since the cre- 
ation. It also was the cause of the building of the first railroad 
in America.^ This road was constructed for the more rapid trans- 

1. The following is au account of the opening of the first railroad in Amer- 
ica, as given by the papers of that time: — 

" This railroad, the first we believe in the country, was opened on Saturday, 
in presence of a number of gentlemen, who take an interest in the experiment. 
A quantity of stone weighing sixteen tons, taken from the ledge belonging to 
the Bunker Hill Association and loaded in three wagons, which together weigh 
five tons, making a load of twenty- one tons, was moved with ease by a single 
horse from the quarries to the landing above Neponset bridge, a distance of 
more than three miles. Tlie road declines gradually the whole way, from the 
quarry to the landing, but so slightly that the horse conveys back the empty 
wagons, making a load of five tons. After the starting of the load, which re- 
quired some exertion, the horse moved with ease in a fast walk. It may 
therefore be easily conceived how greatly the transportation of heavy loads is 
facilitated by means of tliis road. A large quantity of beautiful stone already 
prepared for the Bunker Hill Monument, will now be rapidly and cheaply 
transported to the wharf at the termination of the railroad, whence it will be 
conveyed by lighters to Charlestown. The road is constructed in the most 
substantial manner. It rests on a foundation of stone laid so deep in the 
ground as to be beyond the reach of frost, and to secure the rails on which the 
carriage runs effectually against any change of their relative position ; they are 
laid upon stones of eight feet in length, placed transversely along the whole 
extent of the road at a distance of six or eight feet from eacli otliur. The space 
between these stones is filled with smaller stones or earth, and over the whole 
between the rails a gravel path is nuide. The rails are formed of pine timber, 

65 



506 STONE QUARRYING. 

portation of the stone to Charlestown for the construction of the 
monument, but did not meet the expectations of Mr. Willard.^ It 
also gave an impetus to the stone business by bringing to the atten- 
tion of the community a building material, which has adorned 
many of our cities with a class of noble and substantial buildings, 
both public and private. This experiment of Mr. Willard in 
opening the stone quarries in this place has added millions of 
dollars to the wealth of individuals and the town, as well as to 
enable the Bunker Hill Monument Association to procure first- 
class material to erect the monument. 

About seven years after this road was opened, a fatal and 
serious accident occurred on it, which was the first railroad acci- 

on the top of which is placed a bar of iron. The carriages run upon the iron 
bars, and are kept in place by a projection on the inner edge of the truss wheels. 
The wheels are of a size considerable larger than a common cart wheel. 

" We learn from a gentleman who has visited the principal railroads in 
England, that in point of solidity and skill in construction this is not exceeded 
by any one there.— Columbian Centiual, Oct. 11, 1820, and taken from the 
Daily Advertiser." 

The cost of this tramway was thirty-four thousand dollars. See Charles F. 
Adams', Jr., "Railroads; their Origin and Problems." 

" Next comes the Lowell, incorporated in 1 830 ; then followed the Worces- 
ter, Providence and others. The Lowell was first opened for public travel 
in June, 1835; the Worcester in July, the same year; the Providence was also 
opened in 1835, wi^h a single track. The Maine was opened from Wilmington 
to Andover, in 1836, to South Berwick, 18-43. The Eastern comes next, in 1838, 
which year it was opened to Salem. The Old Colony began in November, 1845. 
The Fitchburg in 1845, and the Hartford and Erie in 1849, under the name of 
the 'Norfolk County Road.' It is somewhat singular, that all the railway 
stations in Boston stand on ground reclaimed from the sea." 

1. " There has been a strange misaj)prehensiou respecting the importance 
of the railway to us. I think the following statement, will illustrate this point: 
The whole quantity of stone carried from our ledge to the water, is 2287 tons, 
which at 35 cents per ton comes to !iJ800.50. The price offered by a respectable 
company for the hauling the common way, was lifty cents i)ev ton, so that all 
the gain that ever was expected, provided they had fultilled their agreement, 
was only the difference between 35 and 50 cents on 2287 tons, ^8343.05 in a work 
where $28,000 had been expended. On the other side of the account we must 
reckon the loss of two years in waiting for this company to perform a job which 
amounts to a little more than §800. For loss in time no estimate in money can 
be made. It has been, however, an iujury which is irreparable. The loss in 
cash paid to men with their hands tied in consequence of the delinquency of the 
Railway Company, (1 should say to speak within bounds) was ten times the 
whole cost of carrying 2287 tons to the water." 



STONE QUARRYING. 507 

dent in New England, if not in the United States. July 25th, 
1832, four gentlemen left the Treraont House, Boston, to come 
to Quincy and view this new railroad enterprise. After having 
examined the process of transporting large and weighty loads of 
stone, they were invited to ascend the inclined plane in one of 
the vacant returning cars. While the car was ascending this 
inclined plane, the chain gave way, and they were precipitated 
over the precipice, a distance of twenty or thirty feet. Mr. 
Thomas Bachus of Cuba was killed. Mr. J. Gibson of Boston 
had both legs broken. Mr. W. G. Bend of Baltimore was 
severely and Mr. Andrew E. Belknap of Boston slightly injured. 
We give below in a general note the expense of building 
and other matters connected with the construction of the mon- 
ument.^ 



1. "The following are the prices? paid the workmen in the various depart- 
ments for the construction of the monument: — 

"Quarryraan's department. One master at .?2.00 per day; five common 
at — ; three capsin men at — ; one blacksmith, $l.Cu per day. 

" Hammerer's department. Thirty hammerers at :^1.73 per day; two black- 
smiths at ^1.67 per day; one pattern maker at $1.19 per day. 

"Hoister's department. One rigger — ; one master, §2.00 per day, one 
foreman SI. 07 per day; three common hands, §4.50 per day for the three. 

" Mason's department. One master mason §2.50 per day; three jonrneymeu 
at §1.07 per day; one apprentice §1.00; one blacksmith; one tender. 

Whole cost of monument, §103,963.08. 

The measurement of the monument by the Engineer, was as follows, viz :— 
DIMENSIONS OF THE OBELISK. 

Height of obelisk to base of pyramid, 208 feet, 5 inches. 

Height of monument to the apex, 221 feet, 5 inches. 

Sides of the square, first course, 30 " 

Sides of the square at base of pyramid, 15 " 

Thickness of wall at the base, one-fifth, G " 

Thickness of wall at the top, 2 

Circumference of chamber in the top, 3G " 

Height of chamber, 18 

Diameter of chamber, 11 " 6 inches. 

Height of each course in the monument, 2 " 8 

Diminish in each course, 2J 

Number of courses to base of pyramid, 78 

Number of steps in the circular stairs, 204 

Height of riser, 8 inches. 
Foundation 50 feet square; G courses, 2 feet each, 12 feet deep. 



508 STONE QUARRYING. 

Six years after the opening of the Bunker Hill Quarry, Mr. 
Willard wrote the following letter to Mr. Joseph Grinnell, of 
New Bedford, which gives a fair insight into the stone business 
of that period : — 

" The high j^rice demanded for granite for the fifteen years 
past, and particularly for blocks of large dimensions, has had a 
tendency to discourage the i;se of it, and my object in engaging 
in the stone business was not to make money, but to make exper- 
iments in order to remove the obstructions to the extensive use 
of granite as a building material, and to ascertain the lowest 
price at which it could be afforded with the common facilities 
for doing business. I left the profession of architect, which I 
had followed ten years in Boston, and took charge of a corps 
of quarrymen, at the Bunker Hill Quarry, in Quincy, six years 

DIMENSIONS OP THE CONE. 

Height of the cone from the flooring, 196 feet, 9 inches. 

Diameter of the first course, 10 " 

Diameter of the top course, 6 "2 " 

Thickness of wall, at base, one-sixth, 1 "8 " 

Thickness of wall at top, 1 " 

Height of each course, 1 "4 " 

Number of courses, ] 47 

Diminish in each course, G-lOths ef an inch. 

DIMENSIONS OF THE PYRAMID. 

Vertical height from base line to apex, 13 feet. 

Number of courses in the pyramid, G 

Sides of the base, 15 feet. 

From base line to apex, 15 " 

" The following are the names of the workmen and the amount of money sub- 
scribed by them for the construction of the monument, viz:— Solomon Willard, 
$1000; Ezra Badger, $20.00; Hazen Abbott, $5.00; Theodore Rogers, $5.00; 
John White, $5.00; Joseph French, $5.00; Daniel Leonard, $5.00; Jacob B. 
Collins, $5.00; William Frederic, $5.00; D. M. C. Knox, $5.00; Samuel Ames, 
$5.00; Andrew Buntin, $5.00; John Adams, $5.00; John C. Knox, $5.00; 
John Frederic, $5.00; George Frederic, Jr., $5.00; John Robertson, $5.00; 
Samuel Bla, $5.00; Eli Stebbins, $5.00; Eleazer Frederic, $5.00; Daniel Ela, 
$5.00; Almoram Holmes, $50.00. Whole amount, $1,165.00." 

"A copy of this document, among Mr. Lawrence's papers, contains several 
other names, as follows:— Luther Marble, John Devanny and Thomas Pike, 
Jr., five dollars each, and Mr. James S. Savage, fifty dollars,, making the 
aggregate •$1,230. Probably they did not pay their subscription, as Mr. Rus- 
sell's receipt is only for the $1,100 as above." 



STONE QUARRYING. 509 

ago the fifteenth of the present November. The committee of 
that work had previously advertised for proposals for furnishing 
the stone required, and received but one, and that was sixty-two 
cents per cubic foot, for the raw material delivered in Charles- 
town. A combination had taken place among the dealers in 
stone to keep up the prices, as is usually the case. The quarry- 
ing of four thousand tons was finally done by the day, by men 
under my charge, and cost the association but thirteen cents and 
three mills per cubic foot delivered on a Avharf in Charlestown." 

Still this was hardly a fair statement of the expense of cutting 
stone at that time, as Mr. Willard's services to the association 
were gratuitous ; but even at these prices there was a large mar- 
gin for profit, if a superintendent had been paid fair wages for 
overseeing the work. 

The United States Branch Bank, Boston, was the first build- 
ing that we know of which was constructed of large stone. 
"The corner stone was laid the 5th of July, 1824. The heavy 
columns in the portico of this building were cut from a huge 
boulder of granite in the town of Westford, Mass., known as 

The following is the surveyed distance for the transportation of the stone by 
road from the Bunker Hill Ledge to the monument at Charlestown :— 

MILES. QKS. KODS. 

Howard's Corner, 

Railway House, 

Stone marked 8 miles to Boston, 

Commencement of lower road at mills, 

Road leading to Neponset Bridge, 

Turnpike, 

Glover's Corner, 

Draw of Free Bridge (to South Boston), 

Church, head of Sea street, (now Federal street), 

Hanover street, through Federal and Marshall, 

Bunker Hill Monument, 

In order to understand the price of dressing stone about this period, we mean 
first-class work, per cubic foot, was as follows :— 

"At the General Hospital, for columns, !t?1.00; at the Branch Bank for archi- 
traves, $2.00; which were to have been paid for columns, !i?1.00; at the Tremont 
House for columns, $1.00; at the Tremont House, blocks for cornice, 00 cents; 
at the Washington Bank, for footing, §1.00; at the Arcade in Providence, for 
footing, $1.00; at the Dry Dock in Charlestown, 00 cents; at Norfolk for Dry 
Dock, 70 cents; at the New Bank in State street, for piers, $1.00; for the new 
Court House, $1.00. Average price for these sales, 99 cents." 






3 


40 


2 


2 


58 


2 


3. 





4 


2 





5 


2 


40 


6 





44 


7 


1 


40 


10 





10 


10 


2 


4 


11 





72 


12 


1 


29 



510 STONE QUARRYING, 

the Chelmsford granite. They were twenty-four feet in height, 
including the cnp, and four feet in diameter at the base," and 
would be called inferior in size to some columns since cut. This 
building Mr. Willard completed before beginning the monument. 

The first large stone columns quarried in Quincy were those 
taken for the Unitarian Church in this town, in 1828, from the 
Rattlesnake Quarry, which is now owned and worked by Jesse 
Bunton & Co. They were hammered by a Mr. Hazen Abbott, 
with a pean hammer, and must have been a very laborious job 
with this primitive instrument. The old red chalk lines can be 
seen to this day by which the stone was lined off. 

The Tremont House was erected in 1828, and the corner stone 
was laid by Mr. Samuel T. Armstrong, president of the Massa- 
chusetts Mechanic Association, July 4th, of that year ; the stone 
was hammered at the State Prison. " The ornamental part of 
the entablature — the facade and the portico — were executed by 
Mr. Samuel R. Johnson, of Charlestown." It was among tlie 
first hotels of this class erected in the country. The Masonic 
Temple, now the U. S. Court House, was built in 1831. Mr. 
Willard furnished the plan of the monument for Mr. Edward 
Everett, in commemoration of the fight at the old North Bridge, 
Concord, in 1825, but it was not completed until 1836. He also 
made the design for the Franklin Monument, in the Granary 
Burying Ground, which was constructed in 1827. He furnished 
the jDlan for the Harvard Monument, which was erected in the 
old historic cemetery, in Charlestown, in 1828. Mr. Willard 
made the plan for the old Norfolk County Court House, at Ded- 
ham, which was built in 1826, and at that time was considered 
one of the best specimens of his architecture. He seems to 
have been at that 2)eriod, the principal architect of the times. 
The Suffolk County Court House was also designed by him, and 
completed in 1835. The two Doric porticos were supported by 
eight stone columns, which were twenty-five feet six inches in 
height, and four feet six inches in diameter, and measured about 
fifty tons. It required a team of sixty-five yoke of oxen and 
twelve horses, to transport them to Boston. The Court House 
has since been enlarged, by removing the Doric jjortico on the 
southerly end, and there building an extension. 



STOXE QUAKBYING. 511 

These large columns for the Court House, we believe, were the 
third ones in chronological order taken to Boston. The Branch 
Bank, in 1824 ; Faneuil Hall or Q.uincy Market, in 182G, from 
Chelmsford granite; and the Court House, in 1835. 

The Boston " Custom House, on State street, was by act of 
Congress, authorized to be built in 1835, but it was two years 
after, before its construction was begun, which was in 1837, and 
the time of building it was twelve years. The building is con- 
structed in the form of a Greek cross, and the external part of 
it is in the pure Doric style of architecture, and was wholly built 
of Quincy syenite. Its walls, columns and roof, are constructed 
of stone, and it is surrounded by thirty-two massive stone col- 
umns, each of which are five feet two inches in diameter, thirty- 
two feet high, and weigh about forty-two tons. This attractive 
and noble building rests on, as a foundation, about three thou- 
sand piles. The cost of the Custom House was about one mil- 
lion of dollars, including site and foundation. The stone for the 
Custom House was taken from the quarries of Richards, Munn 
& Co., O. T. Rogers & Co., Thomas Hollis, Jr., Granite Railway ' 
Co. and Henry Wood. 

Mr. Willard, in 1836, superintended the construction of the 
New York Exchange,^ which stones were taken in part from the 

1. The following is a partial list of tlie public buildiugs erected from Quincy 
syenite, and the names of the firms furnishing it: — 

The stone for the United States Dry Dock at Charlestown, Mass., was taken 
from the Granite Railway Quarry, and dressed in the Navy Yard, in 1828. 

The stone for the United States Dry Dock at Gosport, Va., was taken from 
the Granite Railway and other quarries, including the " South Common," of 
pink stone, and worked at that time by Jonathan, Samuel and James Newcomb 
three brothers. 

The stone for the New Orleans Custom House was furnished between the 
years 1849 and 1850, by a combination of all the principal granite firms in 
Quincy, Boston antV vicinity. Mr. Luther Munn acted as agent fur the several 
firms, with the government. The building occupies a whole square, three hun- 
dred feet on a side, and covering an area of more than two acres. 

The stone for the Mobile Custom House was furnished by O. T. Rogers & 
Co., Granite Railway Co., and J. B. AVhitcher & Co., the contract being with 
O. T. Rogers ^ Co. 

The stone for the Savannah, Ga., Custom House v.as furnished by O. T. 
Rogers &. Co. and others. O. T. Rogers & Co. had the contract with the 
governm ent. 



512 STONE QUARRYING. 

Wigwam Quarry, now worked by Badger Brothers. O. T. Rog- 
ers & Co. and Barker & Co. furnished the material for the entab- 
lature. This building required a large amoiint of heavy stone, 
including eighteen fluted columns of over thirty tons each. These 
columns, when finished, were thirty-two feet, eight inches in 
height. Among the stone contractors there seems to have been 
a doubt whether Mr. Willard would be able to secure them, as 
will be seen by his own statement, viz : — " I do not apprehend 
much difliculty in getting the whole out, although our neighbors 
in the stone business appear to be much concerned about it. I 
presume we can get them, if anybody can, and at less than half 
the cost to them. We are now drilling a line of holes eighty feet 
long, and have a fair chance of getting two columns at the next 
split. We have wedged off our long split about an inch, and 1 
think will make what was intended. Our quarrymen have had to 
proceed with great caution, on account of the great length ; this 
block must have measured from one hundred to one hundred and 
fifty tons. Another block was partly got out which it was expected 
would make four columns, but it was not successful." One year 
from this time, during which much of the stone for the Exchange 
and Custom House in Boston had been secured and forwarded. 

The stone for the Portland, Me., Custom House (since destroyed and rebuilt) 
was furnished by J. B. Whitcher, & Co. and Barker, AVright & Co. 

The stone for the San Francisco, Cal., Custom House was furnished by Rich- 
ards, Munn & Co. and others. 

The stone for the Providence, R. I., Custom House was furnished by Fred- 
erick & Field and E. C. Sargent. 

The stone for the Boston Court House was from the Granite Railway Quarry, 
in 1833. 

The stone for the Essex County, Salem, Court House was furnished by O. T. 
Rogers & Co. 

The stone for the Worcester County Court House was furnished by O. T. 
Rogers & Co., and Thomas HoUis, Jr. 

The stone for the Boston Exchange was from the Wigwam Quarry, by Mr. 
Willard, with the exception of the pilasters, which were furnished by O. T. 
Rogers & Co. 

The stone for the San Francisco Exchange was furnished by Richards, Munn 
& Co., and others. 

The stone for the old Masonic Temple and the old Trinity Church, Boston, 
were furnished by Richards, Munn & Co. ; the temple iu 1833 and the church 
in 1828. 



STONE QUARRYING. 513 

Mr. Willard wrote, July 8th, 1841, as follows :— " We expect to 
get through shortly aud to have the greatest hurrah and throw- 
ing up of caps that ever was in Quincy. We have saved three 
cartridges for the Yankee, to be fired off when the last column 
is loaded," 

Four months later, he wrote, — " We are about getting the 
seventeenth column to the wharf ; the eighteenth we expect to 
get finished on Tuesday next, and the whole column and archi- 
trave afloat in the course of next week." 

The discarded column was set up in the Hall Cemetery, as 
we have before stated, in speaking of that cemetery; and here 
we wish to correct an error that we Avere led into by the author 
of Mr. Willard's memoirs, in which he caused us to make the 
statement that a full set of stone tools was placed in the top of 
the monument, when since, we have learned they were placed in 
the base, and we should say, the most proper locality for them. 

The cost of some of the columns as stated in an estimated 
work, was about fifteen hundred dollars, while two of them, 
upon which extra work was ordered, are put down at four thou- 
sand dollars, and Mr. Willard in one of his letters remarks, 
"that the prime cost of getting out one of these shafts is as 
much as the prime cost of a Doric column with its capitals, for 
which five thousand, two hundred dollars was paid at the Custom 
House." The estimated work upon each was equal to four men 
for forty-five days. The tall, plain and fluted pilasters in front 
of the Merchant's Exchange in Boston, which were taken from 
the old Rogers Quarry, are much the largest in that city, and 
were raised into position by means of screws. The corner pilas- 
ters are forty-one feet, eight inches in height, six feet wide, aud 
measure about fifty-five tons. Mr. Willard and others in the 
business, were enabled to handle these large blocks and stone 
columns with great ease and facility by Mr. Willard's improved 
lifting and puUing-jack, in connection with Mr. Holmes' hoisting 
apparatus. Mr. Holmes was also the inventor of the derrick. ^x 

Mr. Willard, the pioneer of the stone business in this town, 
lived to see a great change in this branch of business, which 
was brought about by extensive competition, by quarries being 
opened in other places where lighter colored and cheaper stone 

66 



514 STONE QUARRYING. 

could be procured for such purposes ; many preferring the lighter 
shades for the construction of buildings. By far the largest 
amount of Quincy stone that has of late been used for building, 
lias been furnished by the enterprising firm of Messrs. Henry 
Barker & Sons, for the Philadelphia market, where many supe- 
rior public and private structures have been erected, among 
which are the New Masonic Temple and the Ridgway Library, 
which for architectural designs, workmanship, finish and cost of 
manufacture, have not been surpassed in this country. 

Pi'obably seven-tenths of the syenite now quarried in Quincy 
is used for cemetery and monumental work, which is now the 
principal business of the town. So noted has it become for 
these purposes, that it has been sent to all parts of the country, 
and even to South America and Europe. 

Syenite and granite have of late years become extensively 
used for paving streets, and millions of paving blocks are yearly 
manufactured out of Quincy stone ; also from quarries in other 
places. Mr. Willard somewhere about 1840 furnished the first 
paving stones from our quarries, and they were laid in front of 
the Tremont House, Boston. They were, however, much larger 
than the blocks used at the present time. 

The small blocks or cubes now in use were first suggested and 
manufactured by our enterprising townsman, Mr. Henry Barker, 
in 1858, now of the firm of Henry Barker & Sons. Much oppo- 
sition was made to their introduction, especially in Boston, but 
merit and perseverance have proven stronger than prejudice, as 
can be shown by the large quantities that have annually been 
called for and used in the city of Boston; also, their extensive 
and increasing use in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and 
other places where durable and economical paving material is 
wanted. Mr. Barker has the satisfaction of having lived to see 
them adopted and come into general use. 

Up to 1825, syenite and granite were rarely used for anything 
but rough work; as cutting and dressing stone mouldings and 
carved ornamental work was little known here. In the con- 
struction of buildings at that time, the walls were carried up 
in regular courses of stone, merely squared, and most generally 
crowned or finished with a cornice of wood. 



STOXE QUARRYING. 515 

One Sunday in 1803, the first experiment in splitting stone 
with wedges, was made by Josiah Bemis, George Stearns and 
Michael Wild. It proved successful, and so elated were these 
gentlemen on this memorable Sunday, that they adjourned to 
Newcomb's Hotel, Avhere they partook pf a sumptuous repast. 
The wedges used in this experiment were flat, differing from 
those in use at the i)resent time. The stone-cutters found it so 
troublesome to go to the centre of the town to have their tools 
sharpened, that in 1S04, t]iey had the first blacksmith shop in 
the Commons built near the quarry of the late Henry Wood. 

Mr. Joseph Richards,^ of the former firm of Richards & Munn, 
Avas a man of uncommon ability and intelligence, and was pos- 
sessed of much inventive genius. About the year 1831, he in- 
^ vented the bush, or axe hammer ; which term is the more proper 
we are not able to say, as no name for it is to be found in 
any of the dictionaries, although this instrument has been in use 
about half of a century. The name of bush hammer is evidently 
local, as at Philadelphia and some other places, it is called axe 
hammer, from the several little axes being keyed into the cheeks 
of the instrument, and we think it the most correct name of the "^ 
two. There are six, eight, ten, or more axes connected with it. 

1. Hon. Joseph Richards was born in Cummington, Mass., Aug. 26th, 1784, 
and was educated in the District School. When about twelve years of age, he 
removed with his parents to the northern part of the State of New York, where 
he was engaged with his father in farming, 'until he was eighteen years of age, 
•when he left home and came to Quincy. His first engagement in this town was 
with President John Adams, as coachman, who after a few months' service 
in that capacity, suggested to him that he was worthy of a higher position. 
From these suggestions of Mr. Adams, he went to Abington, where he under- 
took the duties of a school teacher, a position for which by nature ho was 
eminently qualified even at that early age. Possessing an instinctive knowledge 
of human nature, he governed without force or coercion. He was an ardent 
lover of the science of mathematics, in the higher branches of which ho was 
(juite proficient. From Abington he returned to Quincy, or " Braiutree Neck," 
(now Quincy Neck) in 18(i;5, where he engaged, for many years, in quarrying and 
working stone in the summer, with IJryant Newcomb, his future father- iu-law, 
and school teaching in the winter until the increa.se of the stone business in 
which he was engaged, engro.ssed his whole time. Altjiough obliged to aban- 
don the profession in which he delighted, his love of knowledge continued 
unabated until the close of his successful life, Feb. 12th, 1848. He was 
chosen to the State Senate for the years 1843 and '44. Mrs. Richards sur- 
vived her husband a number of years. 



516 STONE QUAERYING. 

The number used depends upon the fineness the artisan desires 
to dress the stone. This useful instrument to stone-cutters was 
first made by Mr. Richards, solid or wholly in one piece, for 
which he received a patent ; since then improvements have been 
made upon it by constructing it in several pieces. Mr. Richards 
was also the first to suggest, construct and utilize the Louis hole, / / 
as now applied for blasting purposes. No consideration would 
induce the quarrymen to relinquish or give up this imj^roved 
method of blasting. The advantage gained by the quarrymen 
is, that the split in the stone generally runs in the direction they 
desire. 

Efforts have been made to dress stone by machinery, but 
have not been fully successful in this country. A machine for 
dressing stone, patented by Mr. Charles Wilson of New York, i Z' 
was set up in Quincy in 1853, by Richards, Munn & Co. Not 
proving a success, it was removed to Cape Ann, where it was 
used for one season only, by Barker, Wright & Co., Avith toler- 
able success. The same principal is said to be in successful 
operation in Aberdeen, Scotland, at the present time for the 
dressing of syenite and granite. 

As the stone business becomes better understood, greater 
improvements will be made. Mr. Henry Barker & Sons have 
recently, or in 1877, had constructed at their stone works a 
sawing machine, which is the first machine in constant use 
established for sawing syenite and granite by iron globules, in \^ 
the United States ; by this means stones are sawed out in the 
same manner as boards. This is accomplished with great facility 
with chilled iron globules, but must be seen to be understood. 
By this method they are able to manufacture stone mantles, tops 
for tables, or for any other purpose for which marble is used. 
This sawing machine seems to be, as yet, the nearest approach 
to a stone-dressing machine, and may at no distant day execute 
the plainer kinds of work to great advantage. 

Within a few years a new process in the dressing of stone has 
come into extensive use, which is called polishing. So extensive 
has this process become in the embellishment of our syenite, 
that most of the firms engaged in this business have been 
obliged to have constructed within their stone yards, large 



\ 



STONE QUARRYING. 517 

buildings in which expensive machinery has been placed for this 
purpose. This custom of polishing syenite is a revival or resto- 
ration of the Egyptian system of embellishing their syenite which 
is as old as their everlasting pyramids and monument. The im- 
provement in this branch by the use of machinery has so reduced 
the cost, as to make polished work more common than formerly. 
The polished surface is much more beautiful ; it is also much 
more durable, as the surface isthereby rendered perfectly impen- 
etrable to the disintegrating elements and the ravages of time, 
as may be seen in the beautiful specimens of polished red syenite 
of ancient Egypt, which still retain the original polish and color 
unimpaired. The recent discovery and development of a vein 
of red syenite in the Greenleaf Quarry, completes the parallel in 
this respect between the ancient syenite of Egypt and the modern 
in Quincy. Although a lighter shade of red or pink, syenite of 
excellent quality has been for years quarried in the South Com- 
mon, which quarry is now carried on by Capt. George B. Wen- 
dell & Co.i 

1. It may be of interest to enumerate some of the old and large firms of stone 
contractors that have been engaged in the business. Also, to give the date- of 
their copartnership, which we have done so far as we have been able. 

1803. Newcomb & Eichards, composed of Joseph Richards and Bryant New- 
comb. 

1817. William Packard. 

1823. Granite Railway Co., incorporated 1825; Gridley Bryant, agent, suc- 
ceeded by S. R. Johnson, George Penniman, J. B. AVhicher and O. E. Sheldon. 

1827. Richards & Newcomb, South Common, composed of Joseph Richards 
and Jonathan Newcomb. 

1827. Bunker Hill Association, Solomon Willard, agent. 

1827. Samuel Martin. 

1828. Thoma.i Hollis. 

1829. Newcomb Brothers, South Common, composed of Jonathan New- 
comb and Samuel Newcomb. 

1829. Richards & Munn, Boston, composed of Joseph Richards and Luther 
Munn. 
18.34. Thomas Hollis, Jr. 

18;M to 1842. Wright & Barker, composed of Henry Barker and Abel Wright. 
1842 to 1864. Barker, Wright & Co. 
186G. Henry Barker & Sons. 

1835. O. T. Rogers & Co., composed of O. T. Rogers, Jesso l?uiiton, Sainuol 
Babcock, and Noah Cummings. 

1836. Mosea Day & Co., Packard Quarry. 



518 STONK QUARRYING. 

One important featni'e of all these quarries is, that the deeper 
they are worked the closer the texture, and more permanent 
and durable the color of the material. Some of these quar- 
ries have been worked to the depth of from seventy-five to one 
hundred feet, affording a quality of stone that is without a par- 
allel either in ancient or modern times. The great strength of 
Quincy syenite has been proved by experiments. Professor 
• Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, says, "the result of his 
experiments upon Quincy stone is, that it will bear a pressure 
of seventeen thousand pounds to the* cubic inch, while marble 
only stood the pressure of two thousand, three hundred pounds." 

The various great improvements in the method of quarrying 
Quincy syenite must be noted : — At first the nide, primitive 
manner was to heat the stone and let fall i;pon it a large iron 
ball to split it. Another system was to excavate a deep cavity 
in the ground under the large boulders, and fill the "excavated 
space wdth brush or some other combustil)le matter, and set fire 
to it. When the stone became sufticiently heated, it was broken 
in various parts by the use of large, heavy sledge hammers. 
Then came the process of blasting, by drilling single holes in 
the stone, which was in use until Mr. Richards utilized or sub- 
stituted the Louis hole. 

1836. A. J. Moshier & Co. 

183fi. Beals & Frederick, composed of Horace Beals and Eleazer Frederick. 

1837. Frederick & Field, composed of Eleazer Frederick and William Field. 

1838. New York Exchange Co., Solomon Willard, agent. 

1840. Richards, Munn & Co., composed of Joseph Kichards, Luther Munn, 
Lysander Richards and John S. Lyons. 

1844. J. B. Whicher & Co., composed of J. B. Whlcher, O. E. Sheldon, 
Jonathan Jameson and Samuel Ely. 

1847. Newcomb & Chapin, composed of B. B. Newcomb and E. S. Chapin. 

The following are names of parties engaged in quarrying, but not contractors 
for dressing or building stone: — Josiah Bemis, Joel Bemis, George Follett, 
Thomas Drake, Greenleaf Quarry; James Newcomb worked in the South and 
North Commons; Bryant Newcomb, South Common; Jonathan Newcomb, do.; 
Samuel Newcomb, do. ; Ezra Beals, Gass Quarry, now worked by John Q. 
Wild; Wm. Packard, Packard Quarry, now worked by C. H. Hardwick & Co. ; 
Samuel Martin, Thomas Hollis and Flanders, Rattle-snake Quarry, now worked 
by O. T. Rogers & Co. ; Moses Nightingale, Bass Quarry, now worked by Fred- 
erick & Field; William Ividder also worked the Ba.«s Quarry; John L. Dutton,-- 
Gass Quarry ; Ezra Badger, near Mount Ararat, now Churchill & Co. 



STONE QUAKEYING. 519 

There are no monuments that can be placed over the graves 
of our citizens, so lasting, or appropriate, as our syenite. Many 
of the sacred and costly sarcophagi, tombs and monuments, con- 
structed for tlie honored dead have been dug out of our hills 
of stone, and now commemorate and adorn the graves of those 
who quietly lie slumbering in Mount Auburn, Forest Hills, 
Greenwood and other garden cemeteries of the country. It has 
also been extensively used for the construction of large and 
imposing monuments, Avhich have been erected in public places, 
and important squares in many of our large cities, in commemo- 
ration of the memory of our most distinguished and celebrated 
citizens for their noble deeds and lives. 



COACH LACE BUSINESS. 



Among the pioneers for the manufacturing of lace for the 
trimming of carriages, in New England, was Mr. Wilson Marsh, 
who established this industry in Quincy, about the year 1797. 
He began in a small way by placing a few hand looms in his 
house, on School street, where the old Marsh mansion yet stands. 
Several years after he began business, his two sons, Elisha and 
Jonathan, were connected with him, and the firm was called 
Wilson Marsh & Sons. They continued to successfully prose- 
cute this branch of industry until the death of the senior part- 
ner, in 1828, when the surviving partners formed a new firm 
under the name of E. & J. Marsh. The goods manufactured by 
this firm became noted as reliable and first-class articles. This 
established reputation of their coach lace so increased their 
business, that in 1836, they employed seven males and sixteen 
females, and the value of goods manufactured was estimated at 
twelve thousand dollars. Mr. George Marsh, son of Jonathan, 
having been added to the firm the year previous, the name 
was changed to E. and J. Marsh & Co. The latter part of 
1836, their business had so increased that they built an addition 
to their factory, which stood near the homestead. After the 
new addition was completed and before the machinery was ready 
for operation, Mr. Bigelow invented a loom by which the lace 
could be woven by water or steam power. This improvement 
in machinery, by which this class of goods could be manufac- 
tured with greater facility, gave the old process of hand weav- 
ing its death blow, and in a few years Messrs. Marsh, finding it 
useless to compete with the power loom, abandoned the busi- 
ness. 

This manufactory, with its collateral branches, gave employ- 
ment to many persons who found it very acceptable at that time. 



COACH LACE BUSINESS. 521 

" There are still among us elderly ladies who, in their youthful 
days, carded the wool and prepared the raw material, besides 
weaving much of the lace. They found this occupation a wel- 
come soui'ce of income." 

Messrs. Marsh also had connected with their manufactory a 
dye house, where the raw material received its various colored 
hues, preparatory to its being fabricated into fine coach lace. 
During the dull times of the War of 1812, this firm connected 
with their legitimate business the dyeing of garments, in wliich 
they established quite a business. On the close of this industry 
and the dissolution of the firm, the younger members of the 
family converted the lace house into a boot manufactory, where 
this business was conducted for years. On its abandonment, 
the four brothers went to Boston and engaged in the leather 
business, where one of them is still engaged. The manufacture 
of coach lace became extinct in Quincy with the dissolution of 
the house of Marsh & Co. 



67 



FISH BUSINESS. 



The first action tlie town took in reference to enconraging 
and establisliing this branch of industry was at a public meeting 
held March od, 1755, when as an inducement for the citizens 
of J>raintree, or persons from other towns, to engage in this 
enterprise, the following terms were voted : — " that for tlie 
encouragement of the bank cod fishery to be set up and 
carried on within this town, that such persons either of 
the town or who may come into the town from other places, 
and shall annually during the proper season of the year, 
employ themselves in their own vessels or those of others, in 
cetching and curing of codfish, are hereby freed and to be freed 
from and released of their poll tax, for the space of three years 
next ensuing the time of their commencing in the said business, 
and so long as they continue in it within said term upon the pro- 
vision, that all such persons who come from other places shall 
be approved of by the Selectmen of the town or a major part 
of them, from time to time, and such of them as shall be by the 
Selectmen disaj^proved of shall be still subject to be warned out 
of the town according to Law." 

To what extent the business was transacted under this encour- 
agement of the town we are unable to say. However, this in- 
dustry was cari'ied on at that time to considerable extent, as 
building vessels for this trade continued to be iM'osecuted at the 
Point and neighborhood from that time to the Revolutionary 
War, when it was susjiended, and the hardy fishermen were 
selected to man our imj^romptu navy. 

The fish business was then, as now, an important item in the 
traffic and business of Massachusetts. So important was it, tliat 
ninety-four years ago, or nearly a century, the State passed a 
resolution that a codfish should be placed in the llepresentatives' 
Hall, in the old State House, as emblematical of this industry, 



FISH BUSINESS. 523 

whicli W.MS ]).issccl with great un.nniniity. Tlie coflfisli was iifter- 
Avards removed to tlie present House of Rejire^entatives, and 
liuiig in the arched niche of the soutli wall, facing the Speaker's 
chair. 

The person who made the motion to place the codfish in the 
old State House, which has excited so much inquiry and curi- 
osity, was Mr. John Kow,^ an eminent merchant of Boston, and 
most active among the sons of liberty. He served on imjwrtant 
committees with James Otis, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and 
Thomas Cushing. 

After the Revolutionary War the fish business was revived 
in Quincy. In the early part of this century, Mr. Nickerson, 
M ajor Vinal and Mr. Bramhall were engaged, to a considerable 
extent, in this business at the Point. It continued to be suc- 
cessful until the embargo and the War of 1812 seriously inter- 
fered with its prosperity. At the close of the war the business 
Avas again revived, and continued to prosper with varied success. 
A large share of the business Avas in the hands of capitalists of 
Provincetown and other Cape Cod towns. In 1833, the fish in- 
terest began to concentrate at Germantown. Capt. Brown took 
up his residence there that year ; Capt. Ilodgkinson in 1834, and 
Capts. Prior, Rich, Holmes and others, about that period. The 
land at Germantown was mostly occupied l)y fish flakes, as 
great numbers were brought there to be cured. In 183G, the 
business amounted to a little rising thirty thousand dollars.— 
Ten vessels were engaged in cod and mackerel fishing. The 
amount of codfish caught and cured was six thousand and two 
hundred quintals, the value of Avhich was estimated at eighteen 
thousand and eight hundred dollars. The number of barrels 
of mackerel packed for market, Avas one thousand and seven 
hundred and fifty, the value of Avhich Avas estimated at twelve 
thousand, two hundred and forty-tAvo dollars. The num- 
ber of men engaged in the business was one hundred. 

] Weiliiesday, March 17, 1784. 

" Mr. I{ow moved tlie House, that leave iiii;,'ht he f;iven to haiiR up the rcp- 
roseiitatioii of a codfi.sh in the room where the House sit, as a niciuorial of the 
importance of the Cod Fishery to the welfare of this Commonwealth as had 
been usual formerly. Tin- said motion beiu;; seconded, the (luestiou was put, 
and leave yiveu for the purpose aforesaid. "—House Jourual. 



524 FISH BUSINESS. 

We believe the old, curious and eccentric Lieut. Peter Bicknell, 
an old resident of Germantown, was not connected with the fish 
business. So eccentric was tliis old denizen of Germantown, 
that one fine summer day, the 4th of July, we believe, he har- 
nessed his horse in a sleigh and took a pleasure ride to Boston, 
which caused no little amusement to those who witnessed a 
sleigh ride in midsummer. The local fish trade was at first car- 
ried on by different persons, who would go out in the morning 
and procure fish, and in the afternoon dispose of their fine large 
fresh fish from their wheelbarrows, for six cents each. In 1823 
the first cart, owned by a Mr. Rice, was used for the disposal 
of fish. Mr. Snow of Boston, succeeded Mr. Rice, and made a 
fortune out of the business. Mr. Samuel Andrews, well known 
to many of our citizens, was engaged in the local trade longer 
than any other person, and died at a ripe old age of 75 years, 10 
months and 11 days. 

Thomas Morton came to Mount Wollaston, in 1622, two years 
after the Pilgrims landed, and he relates that the brooks, rivu- 
lets and the coast shore abounded with the most delicious fish.^ 

1. " Among Fishes, First I will begin with the Codd, because it is the most 
commodious of all fish, as may appeare, by the use which is made of them in 
foraigue parts. 

"The Codd fishing is much used in America, (whereof New England is a 
part) in so much as 300 Sayle of shipps, from divers parts, have used to be im- 
ployed yearely in that trade. 

"I have seene in one Harboure next Richmond Island, 15 Sayle of shipps at 
one time, that have taken in them driyed Codds for Spaine, and the Straights, 
and it has bin found that the Saylers have made 15, 18, 20, 22, p. share for a 
common man. 

"The Coast aboundeth with such multitudes of Codd, that the inhabitants of 
New England doe dunge their grounds with Codd; and it is a commodity better 
than the golden mines of the Spanish Indies ; for without dried Codd the Span- 
iards, Portingal and Italian would not be able to vittle of a shipp for the Sea; 
and I am sure at the Canaries it is the principall conmiodity, which place lyeth 
neere New England very convenient, for the vending of this commodity, one 
hundred of these being at the price of 300 of New Found Land Codds, greate 
store of traine oyle, is mayd of the livers of the Codd, and is a commodity that 
without question will enrich the inhabitants of New England quickly; and is 
therefore a principal commodity. 

"The Bass is an excellent Fish both fresh and salte, one hundred whereof 
salted (at a market) have yielded 5 p. They are so large, the head of one will 
give a good eater a dinner, and for daintinesse of diet, they excell the Mary- 



FISH HUSINKSS. 525 

Whale-fishery business was established at Germantown and at 
Quincy Point about the same time. The first vessel fitted out, 
of any note, at Germantown, was the Cambrian, in 1839 — a top- 
sail schooner, which sailed on a cruise of eighteen months under 
Capt. Holmes, of Germantown, The Cambrian made quite a 
successful voyage, having procured twenty whales and secured 
four hundred and twenty barrels of sperm oil. 

The Ontario sailed bnder the command of Capt. Prior ; also, 
the John Bove Dodge, the Curacoa and others, which were 
equally as fortunate in supplying their owners with oil from 
these greasy monsters. The Cambrian was j^robably the first 
whale-ship that sailed from this port. The Creole, under the 

bones of Beefe . There are such multitudes, that I have seeue stopped into the 
river* close ad joyning to my house with a sand at one tide, so many as will loado 
a ship of a 100 Tonnes. 

" Other places have greater quantities in so much as wagers have bin layed, 
that one should not throw a stone in the water but that he should hit a fish. I 
my selfe, at the turning of the tyde, have seen such multitudes passe out of a 
pound, that it seemed to mee, that one might goe over there backs drishod. 
These follow the bayte up the rivers, and sometimes are followed for bayte and 
chased into the bayes and shallow waters, by the grand pise; and these may 
have also a prime place in the Catalogue of Commodities. 

" The Mackarels are the baite for the Basse, and these have bin chased into 
the shallow waters, where so many thousands have shott themselves a shore 
with the surfe of the sea, that whole hoggesheads have bin taken up on the 
sands; and for length they excell any of other parts, they have bin measured 
]8 and 10 inches in length, and seaven in breadth, and are taken with a drayle, 
(as boats use to passe to and froe at sea on businesse) in very greate quantities 
all along the Coaste. The Fish is good salted, for store against the winter, as 
well as fresh, and to be accounted a good Commodity. 

" This Sturgeon in England is regalis piscis, every man in New England 
may catch what he will, there are multitudes of them, and they are much fatter 
then those that are brought into England from other parts, in so much as by 
reason of their fatnesse, they doe not looke white but yellow, which made a 
cooke presume they were not so good as them of Ronshea; silly fellow that could 
not understand that it is the nature of fish salted or pickelled, the fatter, the 
yellower being best to preserve. 

" For the taste, I have warrant of Ladies of worth, with choice pallats for the 
commendations, who liked the taste so well, that they esteemed it beyond the 
Sturgeon of other parts, and sayd they were deceaved in the looks, therefore 
let the Sturgeon pas.se for a commodity. 

*This river was probably Black's Creek, as Morton's house was near this 
stream of water. 



526 FISH BUSINESS. 

command of Cnpt. Cook, tho principal owners of which were 
Messrs. Calvin White of Brnintree, Simon Gillctt, Ebenezer 
Woodward, Daniel Baxter, Isaiah G. Whiton and Charles A. 
Brown, of Qnincy, sailed the latter part of the year 1840, for 
the Western Islands, where she was fortunate in securing a fine 
cargo, consisting of five hundred and forty barrels of sperm oil 
and ten of black fish, which liberally remunerated all those con- 
nected with the vessel and voyage. She was absent nine months 
and a half. The brig Eschol also sailed as a whaler. 

For some years New Bedford was the largest whaling port in 
the world, but of late years this l)ranch of business has matei-i- 
ally decreased. The most popular instrument for catching 
whales has been the harpoon ; other ingenious methods have 
been used, but have never l)ecome ]»oi)ular with the whalemen. 

" Of Salmons there is sreate abundance, and these may be allowed for a Com- 
modity, and placed in the Catallogue. 

" Of Herrings there is greate store, fat and faire, and (to my mind) as good 
as any I have scene, and these may bo preserved and made a good commodity 
at tho Canaries. 

" Of Eeles there is abundance, both in the saltwaters, and in tho fresh; and 
the fresh water Eele there, (if I may take the judgement of a London Fish- 
monger) is the best that bee hath found in his life time, I have with jioole potts 
found my howsehold, (being nine persons, besides doggs) with them, taking 
them every tide (for 4 moneths space) and preserving of them for winter store; 
and these nuiy prove a good commodity. 

"Of Smelts there is such abundance, that the Salvageg doe take Ibem up the 
rivers with baskets, like sives. 

"There is a Fish, (by some called sliadds, by some alewives) that at the 
spring of tho yeare passe up the rivers to spaune in the ponds, and are taken in 
.such multitudes in every river that liath a pond at the end, that the inhabitants 
doung their ground with them. You may see in one township a hundred acres 
together, set with these Fish, every acre taking lOOO of them, and an aero thus 
dressed will produce and yoald so much corne as ."i acres without lish, and (least 
any ^'irginea num would iuferre hereupon, that the ground of New England is 
barren, because they use no fish in setting their corne, I desire them to be 
remembered, the cause is plaine in Virginea) they have it not to sette. But this 
practice is onely for the Indian Maize (which must be set by hands) not for 
English graine, and this is therefore a commodity there. 

" There is a large sized fish called Hallibut, or Turbut; .some are taken so bigg 
that two men have much adoc to hale them into th(^ boato; but there is such 
plenty, that the fisher men only eate the heads and fiiines, and throw awa^^ the 
bodies; such in ]*aris would yeeld 5 or G crownos a pooco; and this is no dis- 
commodity. 



irisii BUSINESS. 527 

One process was, " that a glass lube containing prussic acid 
slionld be so jilaced in the sliat't of tlie liarpoon, that the mo- 
ment the cord or line was pulled taught, it would be broken in 
the animal's boily, and occasion instant death. 

" Another mode of employing j)rnssic acid was, to enclose a 
glass tube containing it in a hollow ritie bullet about four inches 
long, which was fired from a ritie made for that purpose. The 
bullet also contained an explosive substance connected with a 
fuse, wliich ignited as the ritie was tired, so that the bullet ex- 
ploded immediately after jienetiating the whale, and spread its 
deadly poison through the tlesh. The bullet is made of zinc, 
because it breaks into fragments more angular than any other 
metal. The success of this method is found to be perfect, but 
sailors object to its use, dreading to touch the carcass of a whale 
which has been killed by so powerful a poison, for a whale struck 
by a bullet charged with prussic acid, only disappears for about 

"There are excellent Plaice and easily taken. They (at riowing water) do 
almost come ashore, so that one may .stepp but halfe a foote deepe, and pick 
them up on the sands; and this may passe with some allowance. 

"Hake is a dainty white fish, and excellent vittell fish, and may passe with 
other commodities, because there are multitudes. 

"There are greate store of Pilchers at Michelma.-i, in many places, I have 
seene Cormorants in length 3 miles feedinge upon the Sent. 

"Lobsters are there infinite in store in all the i)arts of the land, and very 
excellent. The most u.se that I made of them, in 5 years after I came there was 
but to baite my Hooke for to catch IJasse, I had bin so cloyed with them the 
first day I went a shore. This being knowne, they shall passe for a commodity 
to the inhabitants, for the Salvages will meete 500 or 1000 at a place where 
Lobsters come in with the tyde, to eate, and save dried for store, abiding in that 
place, feasting and sporting a mouth or G weekes together. 

" There are greate store of the Oysters in the entrances of all Rivers; they are 
not rounde astho.se of England, but excellent fat, and all good, I have seen an 
Oyster banke a mile at length. 

"Mustles there are infinite store. 1 have often gon to Wassagusrus, where 
were excellent Mustles to eate (for variety) the fish is so fat and large. 

" Clames is a shellfish, wliioh I have .seene sold in Westminster for 12 pe. the 
skore. These our swine feede upon, and of them there is no want, every shore 
is full, it makes the swine proove exceedingly, they will not faile at low wator 
to be with them. The Salvages are much taken with the delight of tiiis lislio, 
and are not cloyed (notwithstanding the plenty) for our swine we finde it a good 
commmlity. 

" Kaser fishes there are. Kreeles there are. Cockles and Scalloix'S, and 
divers other sorts of Shellfish vers good fomle." 



528 FISH BUSINESS. 

five minutes, and rises to the surface dead. Strychnia has been 
used instead, and with similar result. 

"The greatest number of whales known to have ever been 
captured by a single vessel in a season, was forty-four, yielding 
two hundred and ninety-nine tons of oil, of two hundred and 
fifty-two gallons each ; this was in 1814. The fortunate vessel 
belonged in Petershead, Scotland, and the oil alone, according 
to the price that year, which was about one hundred and sixty 
dollars per ton, was worth the nice little sum of forty-eight 
thousand, eight hundred and forty dollars." 




JOHN ADAMS GREEN 



, NEWSPAPEKS. 



The Quincy Patriot, the Aveekly journal so welcome to our 
homes and firesides, was established Jan. 1st, 1837. The editors 
and proprietors were John A, Green and Edward B. Osborne. 
The senior member, Mr. John A. Green, Avas a native of Quincy 
and son of Mr. John Green, He was born Aug. 1st, 1814, 
and selected printing as a business. After acquiring his trade 
at Hingham, he was engaged as editor of the Oswego Republi- 
can of New York. The copartnership between Messrs. Green 
and Osborne was of short duration, as the latter gentleman with- 
drew at the end of three months. The Patriot from that time was 
conducted by Mr. Green, for about fourteen years. July 1st, 
1851, Mr. Green disposed of the Patriot to Mr. Gideon F. Thayer 
and Mr. George White, the present Judge of Probate for Nor- 
folk County. Judge White was a native of this town, and son 
of Nathaniel White. He fitted for college with William M. 
Cornell, LL. D., and at Exeter Academy, N. H. ; graduated 
from Yale College in 1848, and from Harvard Law School in 
1850; studied law with Hon. Robert Rantoul, Jr., in Boston; 
admitted to Suffolk Bar, and became partner with Mr. Rantoul 
in 1851. He was a n>ember of the Constitution Convention 
from Quincy in 1853. Appointed Judge of Probate and Insol- 
vency in 1858, which office he still holds. 

Gideon French Thayer Avas born in Watertown, Mass., Sept. 
21st, 1793, and was adopted and brought up by Gideon French, 
a tallow chandler, of Boston. His orphan boyhood was passed 
in Brookline and Boston ; his school education was acquired in 
the Grammar Schools of those towns. At the age of 14, he 
was placed as a salesman in a retail shoe store. In 1820, 
lie commenced a private school with one scholar, but by his char- 
acteristic energy his school became flourishing. Mr. Thayer 
purchased a site for a school house in Chauncey place, now 

68 



530 NBWSPAPEKS. 

Chauncey street, where he opened what is now known as the 
Chaunccy ITall School, in 1828. This noted school under Mr. 
Thayer became a success. In 1855, he resigned his charge of 
the school on account of failing health, and accepted the Presi- 
dency of the Prescott Insurance Office. He resigned his position 
in the Insurance Office to prevent threatened apoplexy, and the 
remainder of his life was passed with his friends, at Keene, 
N. II., where he died March 27th, 18G4, aged about 71 years. 

April, 1852, Mr. Thayer sold his interest in the paper to Judge 
White, who continued it until April, 1853, when he sold all right 
and title to the l*atriot, to its former editor and ])roprictor, Mr. 
.lohn A. Green. Mr. Green continued to publish it until his 
death, which occurred July 11th, 18G1. Messrs. Thayer and 
White not being familiar with conducting a country journal, 
sank from one to two thousand dollars in the experiment. After 
the death of Mr. Green, his widow assumed the responsibility of 
the office. In 1809, Mr. George W. Prescott, the former busi- 
ness manager, entered into copartnership with Mrs. Green, and 
from that time to the present, the Patriot has been published 
under the firm name of Green & Prescott. The first twenty- 
five years, or until a year or two after the war broke out in 18G1, 
the Patriot was not a financial success. Its publishers were 
obliged to work hard, late and early, to n\ake both ends meet. 

The Patriot has always been published as an independent 
]);iper in a folio form. Its size at the time of its first publication 
was twenty by thirty inches, about one-half its present size. 
The original size of the paper appears rather diminutive coin- 
])ar('d with the iiresent sheet, still it was as large as its editor 
desired for the poor remuneration he received for its publication. 
The Patriot has been enlarged three times. Messrs. Thayer & 
White increased its size to twenty-two by thirty-two. It con- 
tinued in this form until 18GG, when increasing business caused 
its publishers to make another addition to it, which increased its 
size to twenty-four by thirty-sii: inches. In 1S72, it was again 
enlari;t'd to ils pi'esent sv/.v of an oiglit-cohiinn paper, twenly-six 
and one-halt by forty-one inches. May tlie Patriot be as gra- 
ciously rei-eived for the forty-one years te» come, as it has for 
forty-one years past. 



NEWsr.vrKKs. 531 

The next newspaper tliat was )ml)lishe»l in Quincy was called 
the Quiney Aiivoia. This paper was establislu'd by JMr. Charles 
Clapji, a native of tliis town, Jan. 1st, l84o. In ])olitics, it was 
an ardent supporter and an able advocate of the jirinciples of 
the late Whig party. 

The Aurora was a six-cohunn paper, of the size of twenty-two 
by thirty-two inches. This pa]>cr was frequently in bitter con- 
troversy with llie Patriot, which finally ended in a libel suit at 
law, and in all probability shortened its days, as it was discon- 
tinued after an existence of a little ovi'r three years and one 
month. The following extract from its valedictory will give the 
editor's version of the cause of its demise : — 

Feb. rith, 184H. "This is the last number of the Quincy 
Aurora that we shall Issue. We need not mention in detail 
the various considerations that have influenced us in coming to 
this conclusion. .It is enough to say, that our patronage from 
the beginning has not been sufiicient to enable us to make the 
])aper ^vhat we wished to make it, or to yield us an adetpiate 
compensation for our time and labor. Additions, it is true, 
have been made to our list of subscribers from year to year, but 
three years experience has fully convinced us that no jtaper of 
the kinil which we would be willing to edit can be fairly sup- 
ported in this place." 

The i)ublishing office of the Aurora was on Hancock street, 
over Mr. Briesler's store, now kept by the firm of Whitney & 
Nash. Its subscrii)tion price was two dollars a year in advance. 

On Saturday, Sejit. 7th, 1878, the first number of the Quincy 
Free Press was issued by Mr. N. T. Merritt, who is editor and 
j>roprietor. The Free Press is published as a county })apcr ; its 
principles are in sympathy with those advocated by the Demo- 
cratic party. It is an eight-column paper, twenty-four by forty 
inches, and is published in Temple Block, on Temitlo street, at 
two dollars per annum. 



RANDOLPH. 



The first newspaper established in the town of Randolph was 
the Handolph Transcript and Advertiser. 'I'his was published 



532 



NKW'.SI'Al'ICKS. 



weekly as an independent family and business jonrnal, at one 
dollar a year. The first specimen luimbcr was issued March 
14tli, 1857 ; the first number of the first volume was ])ublished 
March 28th, 1857. Samuel P. ]>rown was the editor and 
proprietor. 7\])ril 'Jd, 1S51), the same publisher changed the 
name of the paper to the Jiandolph Transcript and New Eng- 
land Advertiser, and also increased the yearly subscription to 
one dollar and a half. It continued to Ix^ publislied by this title, 
until A])ril 7th, 1 8(50, when it assumed the name of the lian- 
dol])!! Transcri])t and Norfolk Co. Advertiser. From June 14th, 
1862, only small supplements were issued for seven weeks, but 
not numbered in the volumes, which again began regular Aug. 
2d, 1862, with No. 12, Vol. VI, but Aug. 23d of that year, Mr. 
IJrown, its editor and proprietor, announced its discontinuance. 
Aug. ;Ust, of the same year, it was revived under the name of 
the llandolph Advertiser, and was printed on a snudl sheet at 
fifty cents a year. April 4th, ISG^, the liandol])h Transcript 
and Advertiser was enlarged by its editor and i)roprietor, Mr. 
Samuel P. Brown. Oct. 10th, 1863, it was discontinued. The 
folloAving is the valedictory : — " Six years and six months we 
have published tliis pa])er, though never a source of profit. In 
taking leave of our ])atrons, wc; Avill say, that as much has bcjen 
done by some of them for the encouragement of a local paper 
as is done in any i)lace. They have been more than just — they 
have been generous. By words and deeds tlu^y have cheered 
and helped us, and we shall never forget them. As to the com- 
munity generally with whom we have come in contact, we liavc 
had from it our share of commendation and condemnation ; 
probably of the former .as luucli as we deserved — the latter we 
will forget, or try to, as much as cannot be made beiu'liciai for 
us all to remend)er." 

Mr. Brown, Jan. 7th, 1865, issued a new series of 1-he I'ran- 
script and Advertiser, and July 8tl), eidarged it. The price of 
it at that time was one dollar and a half. Oct. 1st the paper 
changed hands; Mr. Joseph Jones became editor and ]»r()])ri(!tor, 
and called it the Kast Norfolk Register; i)ub]ished at two dollars 
per year. 

July 5tl), J807, Klmcr W. JIolmcK became; editor aiul propii- 



NEWSPAPERS. 



533 



etor; Mar. 19th, 1869, Stillman B.Pratt and David S. Hasty 
became editors and proprietors under the firm name of Pratt & 
Hasty; April 22d, 1871, E. Marchant assumed control; Aug. 
19th, 1871, it passed to Ichabod N. Fernald ; Jan. 20th, 1872, 
E. Marchant again assumed control ; Oct, 5th, 1872, Charles M. 
Vincent became the editor and })roprietor, and remained as sucli 
until March 15th, 1873, when Daniel II. Iluxford assumed that 
office, which he still ably fills. 



BRAINTREE. 



Newspaper business in Braintree has not met with mucli suc- 
cess. It being a sparsely ])opulated town, it has given but a 
feeble support to local papers. Three attempts have been made 
to establish a paper in Braintree, but they have only received a 
limited encouragement. 

In 1869, a paper called the Braintree Reporter, was published 
by Charles G. Easterbrook, editor of the AVeymouth Gazette, but 
before two years had passed, he felt compelled to stop it. 

In April, 1875, a newspaper Avas started by C. Franklin David, 
a resident of Braintree. It was called the Old Colony Bulletin, 
and issued semi-monthly. In October, altout six months after 
the Bulletin was started, Mr. David purchased the Abington 
Journal and moved his type and presses to that jdace. 

In January, 1878, a third attempt was made to establish a 
ncAvspaper in this good old town. A handsome sheet, called the 
Braintree Observer, was started by Daniel II. Iluxford, editor of 
the Norfolk County Register, and edited by William MacEwan, 
of l?i-aintree. Although ably conducted it does not receive the 
support it deserves. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



1640. This was the year the town of Braintree received lier 
act of incorporation as an independent municipality. It was a 
gloomy and inauspicious time for the inhabitants. No money 
or demand for their home productions ; emigration had in a 
great measure ceased. Winthrop says, " Corn would bring noth- 
ing; a cow which last year cost twenty pounds might now be 
bought for four or five, and many are going out of the country, 
so no man could pay his debts, nor the merchants make return 
into England for their commodities, which caused many of them 
to speak evil of us." This change was brought about by the 
great reform in State and Church by the home government ; the 
Earl of Stafford had been beheaded, the Archbishop — the great 
enemy of the Colonies, — and many other dignities of the realm 
imprisoned, which produced an utter stagnation of all business. 
So great had this evil become that the General Court was 
obliged to pass an order to try and alleviate their troubles, ay 
follows, viz, : — " Oct. 7th, 1640. It is ordered, that after the last 
day of this month no man shall bee compelled to satisfy any 
debt, legacy, line, or any other payment in money, but satisfac- 
tion shallbee accepted in corn, cattle, fish, or other commodities, 
at such rates as this Court shall set down from time to time, or 
in default thereof, by apprizement of indifferent men to be ap- 
pointed by the officer; provided, that this order shall not extend 
to any debts or payments due or arising upon any contract, or 
other original cause proceeding the last day of this month afore- 
said. And this Court doth order, that Indian Corn merchanta- 
ble, shallbee so payable at the rate of four shillings the bushel, 
summer wheate at six shillings, rye at five shillings, barley at 
five shillings, and pease at six shillings, hemp and flax seed at 
twelve shillings a bushel, and all these ])rizcs to bee intended of 
such corn and seed as shall grow in this jurisdiction." 



MISCELLANEOUS. 535 

The first entry found transcribed on the town records is, the 
partly illegible record of the Coddington School Fund grant to 
the town of Braintree. No business transactions of the town 
appear to be regularly recorded on the town books,^ but we see 
by the Colonial Records that the Colonial tax on Braintree at 
this time was twenty-five pounds. 

"Martin Saunders, Ri. Right and Al. Winchester were ap- 
pointed to value horses, mares, cows, oxen, goats and hoggs, and 
they were to value them under their worth, rather than above 
their worth." By the General Court, the first magistrates were 
appointed for the town of Brtiintree, Oct. 7th, 1640, as follows, 
viz. : — " Richard Right, Alexander Winchester and Will. Chees- 
bro, to end small business at Braintree under twenty shillings." 

1641. This year Ave find the first vote in reference to the old 
grist mill : — May 1st, " it is ordered, that there shall no other mill 
be built in the plantation without the consent of Richard Right, 
or his heirs, so long as the mill remain in their hands, which 
was built by the said Richard Right, unless it evidently appears 
that the sd mill will not serve the plantation, and that he or 

1." For years the records of the town were not kept in chronological order, 
and some not at all. The first business transaction of the town recorded in the 
town's book was in 1643; and what should have been the first matter recorded at 
the opening of the business of the town, was not entered until ItJSG, and that 
had reference to the layiug out of the Plymouth Turnpike. It is evident that 
the minutes of the proceedings of the town meeting were kept on slips of paper 
and subsequently recorded. The same discrepancy, as to the chronological 
order of dates, is also to be found in the marriages, births and deaths. The 
first record on the book of registration is in 164;5, as follows, viz : — " Solomon , 
Curtis, .son of Decodatus Curtis and Rebeckah Curtis his wife, born the eighth 
day of June, 1643." Subsequently, the foUowiug entries are made:— "Mary 
Newcomb, the daughter of Francis Newcomb, and Rachel his wife, was born 
March 2d, 1640. Jonathan, the .son of John Hoidon and Susanna, his wife, was 
born the iy-3-l(>40; Hannah Niles, daughter of John and Jane, born 16-r_'-l(i3(); 
John Niles, son of John and .Jane, born the 4-l-l(;.'58. The first marriage we 
find recorded is Henry Adams and Elizabeth Pain, who were married the 
17-8-1643. The following appear to be the first deaths recorded:— 1(!43, — Mary 
Pain, buried 2d day of the fourth month, but is not recorded on the book until 
1732. l(»46-.S-8, Henry Adams was l)uricd, and is registered on the town book, 
at page 144 of the original iccords." 

These few selections from the records, illustrates what wo before have said in 
reference to the irregularity of keeping the town records for several years after 
it was incorporated. 



536 MISCELLANEOUS. 

they will not build another in convenient time." The next was 
the laying out a foot-way from the old church : — " There is a 
foot way to ly from the laine of Goodman Penniman, where it / 
is marked on the paills, and two ladders appointed to be made 
for a stile, and from thence upon a straight line to the meeting- 
house, over the old bridge." Mr. John Glover and Humphrey 
Atherton were appointed by the Court and authorized to lay out 
the way (which was the old Plymouth road) in difference at 
Braintree. 

" Alexander Winchester, Rich. Right and Samuel Bass, were 
appointed associates for the Court, and commissioners in the 
town. The Court also gave orders to imj^loy Will. Cheesbrough 
and Richard Right to get a firkin of iron ore for Mr. Edward 
Alleyn." 

This year (1641) they ordered that no wheat bread should 
be baked for sale, which seriously interfered with the bakers' 
business, and illustrates the great poverty of the Colony and 
the self-sacrifices they were obliged to make for the purpose of 
bringing money into the Colony. 

" Forasmuch as it appeareth to this Court, that wheat is like 
to bee a staple commodity, and that a ship is with all convenient 
speede to be set forth, and fraited with wheat, for the fetching 
in of such forraine commodities as wee stand in need of, it is 
therefore ordered, that after the last day of this jjresent eighth 
month, no baker, ordinary keeper or other j^ersons, shall bake or 
sell, or set to sale, any bread or cake made of wheat meale, or 
wherein any wheat meale shallbee j^ut, upon paine to forfeit 
double the valewe thereof. And the Cunstables of every town 
are hereby required to see that this order bee observed, and that 
they shall make seisui-e of all such bread so set to sale, and dis- 
tribute the same to the poor. Mr. Peck, Mr. Parker, Goodman 
Bate and Stephen Paiu are desired to view the way at Braintree 
and certify the next General Court." 

Mr. Winchester was appointed Ijy the Court to grant summons 
and attachment, for Braintree. "It is ordered that in every 
town one shallbee apj^ointed to grant summons and attachment 
in all civil actions ; and attachments are to bee granted Avhen 
the party is a stranger not dwelling amongst us, or for some that 



MISCELLANEOUS. 537 

is going out of our jurisdiction, or that is going about to make 
away his estate to defraud his creditors, or when persons are 
doubtful in their estates to the plaintiff, and the same persons to 
graunt replevy ; and when they graunJb any replevy, they are to 
take band, with sufficient security, (of the j^arty that desireth 
the replevy) to prosecute the suite. They are to have for a war- 
rant, two pence a peece ; for a replevy or attachment, three 
pence a peece ; for a band, four pence a peece." 

In the year 1641, "Three men coming in a shallop from Brain- 
tree, the wind taking them short at Castle Island, one of them 
stepping forward to hand the sail, caused a fowling piece with a 
French lock, which lay in the boat, to go off. The whole charge 
went through the thigh of one man within one inch of his belly, 
yet missed the bone ; then the shot (being goose shot) scattered 
a little and struck the second man under his right side upon his 
breast, so as above forty shot entered his body, many into the 
capacity of his breast. The third man being now only able to 
steer, but not to get home the boat, it pleased God the wind 
favored him so as he did fetch the Governor's garden, and there 
being a small boat and men at that time, they brought them to 
Boston before they were too far spent with cold and pain, and 
beyond all expectations, they were both soon perfectly recov- 
ered, yet he who was shot in the breast fell into a fever and spit 
blood." 

It api^ears there was no record of the town's business for the 
years 1642-43, but by the Colonial records we find that Brain- 
tree's Colonial tax for that year was fourteen pounds, and that 
the town was to be supplied with one barrel of powder. In 
1643, the Court ordered that Samuel Bass, James Penniman and \/ 
Alexander Winchester shall end small cases in Braintree, under 
twenty shillings. Tliis year the Colony was divided into four 
counties, viz. : — Essex, IMiddlcsex, Suffolk and Norfolk. Noi'- 
folk was at that time more appropriately located than now, as it 
was north of Suffolk, as its name denotes that it should be, and 
it comprised the following towns, viz. : — " Salsbcrry, Hampton 
Haverhill, Excetter, Dover and Strawberry Banck." The pres- 
ent Norfolk County was not organized until 1793, one hundred 
and twenty-five years after the firat one was established. Mr. 

69 



688 MISOELLANKOUS. 

Peter BrackoU wns :ij)pointed clerk of llic writs, or town clerk, 
as was then the custojii. 

It appears, even at this early date, tliat some jjersoiis were 
addicted to illegal voting, as the Court ])asse(l the following 
order to restrain our I*uritan fathers from this misdemeanor: — 

"It is ordered, if any j)erson shall put in more than one pa])er 
or bean for the choice of any olllcer, ho shall forfito ten ])ounds 
for every offence, and any man that is not free, puting in any 
vote shall forlite like sum of ten j)ounds." It was also the cus- 
tom to use coi'Ji for ballots. The Iiulian corn, if in a majority, 
dcnotcMl the election of the person or ])ersons voted for, and 
beans his non-election. 

1G44. The principal record of the town this year, was a vote 
passed Feb. 11th, to ])rotcct their proi)crty from lire, by obliging 
all the property holders to procure ladders and to have them 
attached to their houses. The town of liraintree, this year, 
with other towns received her sliare of Mr. Andrews' gift, of 
five ])0uiuls, t)r a cow. JMr. Tlioiiuis IMekins was chosen one 
of the Ivepresentatives this year, aiul from some cause or 
other, was dismissed from the General Ccnirt, at the recpiest of 
the town.^ From what cause Mr. Mekins was discharged from 
the Court, we are unable to enlighten the reader. 

1G45. "At a town meeting, there being ])resent Mr. Welde, 
^ James Penniman, Martin Saiulers, Thomas JMekins, Samuel IJass 
and Peter Bass, It was ordered that the foui'teen acres of Town 
Marsh shall be improved to the Klders' use — Mr, Thompson and 
Mr. illint — to such time as the Towusnu'u shall see lit, or oth- 
erwise to dispose of it. Jt is ordei-tnl that IJraijitree sliall he 
abated out of their ne.vt levey, for their deputies' lodgings, ten 
shillings." 

IGIG. "At a meeting, there being ])iesent Samuel IJass, ,Ias. 

i ]*enniinan, Gregory Belcher, Henry Adams and Samuel vVdams, 

It is ordered that every man that is an inhabilant of the town 

shall have Lilierty to take any timber off the (Jommons for any 

use in the town, (provided) so they make not siilc of it out of 

1. Tho inliabitiuits of liraiutroo drew up a i)etition, which was HiKiiod by its 
cili/.uiiM, rcqiiosliiij; tlio < !«ii(>r;il (Joint to diHiiii.s.s or (ll,schiU-j;o Mr. JSlokiiis Iroiii 
the Legialaturo, which tlicy did. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



589 



tlic Town, and in case any shall make sale of it ont of the town, 
cither in boards or holts; or any other waycs, whole or sawed, 
they shall pay for every tunne of timber five shillings a tunne 
to the town." 

Mr. Henry Adams, by petition of the town to the General 
Court, was appointed clerk of the writs, and one of the three 
men to end small cases in the town, in the place of Mr. Peter 
Brackett. It was the custom at this period, for the town clerk 
to be appointed by the Legislature, instead of being chosen by 
the town, as is now the i)ractice. It lias been claimed, and is 
recorded on the Hy leaf of the town records, that Mr. Adams 
was the first town clerk, but it appears by the General Court 
records that he did not receive his appointment until six years 
after the town was incorporated, or in 1G46; and that, in the 
place of Mr. Peter Brackett, who received his oflicial commission 
as clerk of the town in 1643-4, and it is our belief that Mr. Peter 
Brackett has prior claim to this office, and was the first town 
clerk of old Braintree. This error most probably occurred from 
some one— we think it was Mr. Mills, a former town clerk, in 
writing up a list of these officers some years after, from memory, 
as he evidently had done, in making up a list of the earlier mili- 
tary commanders of the town. 

We find no record for the year 1647. 

1648. "Mr. fflint made acknowledgement of the sale of 
the house and lot which was lately John I*aflins, and since 
his death sold unto the said Henry fflint, by William Fenno, 
by virtue of execution sued out by him in the presence of all 
the townsmen, the said Henry fflint doth acknowledge himself 
fully satisfied by Mr. Doctor John Morlcy, for the said house, 
only the said Mr. Doctor doth promise tliat if he should be 
called forth of the Town to surrender back again the said house 
to Mr. fflint, at the same rate of seven pounds, which he paid, 
being allowed at the discretion of indifferent men for such 
charges as he has been at, in witness hereof, the said Henry 
fflint and Mr. Doctor have hereto set their hand in presence of 
Samuel Bass, Richard Brackett, Moses Pain, Thomas Blanchard, 
Mathcw ]iarns, Wm. Allen and Martin Sanders. 

Henrv Fflint, Jon>f Morley." 



540 MISCELLANEOUS. 

Mr. William Ting was this year chosen captain of the military 
company of Braintree, and his commission was confirmed by the 
Court. For several years no record appears on the book of any 
importance. 

1651. At this time, we find the^rst case of insanity in the 
town. "In answer to the petition of John Heydon of Braintree, 
for relief in respect of his distracted childe, as also some loss 
lately befalne him, this Court doth order, that the said John 
Heydon shall have from the County, towards the charges of 
keeping the childe, five pounds per annum, to be payed out of 
their own Town levy, and the Town to bear the rest of the 
charge till the Court se cause to withdraw their benevolence." 

1659. This year the town was engaged in their first law-suit, 
which was a rum case, and decided by the Court against the 
town ; the cost of which failed the town, or at any rate, it em- 
barrassed them so much that they had to petition the Court for 
an abatement of their County taxes, so that they might be able 
to pay the expense of Court, and some other charges of Frizell's 
freezing. 

" In the case of Richard Brackett and Samuel Bass, in behalf 
of the Town, plaintiff, against John Andrews and Benjamin 
Phippeny, defendants, in action of the case for giving John 
Frizell so much licquor as made him drunk, and occasioned his 
miserable freezing, the Court, on hearing the case and evidence, 
do find for the defendant." 

May 31st, 1660. "In answer to the petition of the townsmen 
of Braintree, the Court judgeth it meet to allow them ten 
pounds for the present year out of their County rates in ref- 
erence to their charge about Frizell." 

1660. Much has been written to prove that Goffe, one of the 
three judges who condemned Charles I, once resided in old 
Braintree. This we think is not the case, as they arrived in 
Boston July 27th, 1660, where they resided until discovered by 
the officers of the home government, and were obliged to flee 
from Boston for safety. All authority relates that they went to 
Hadley, Mass. ; also, to New Haven, Conn. After searching all 
recorded evidence, we cannot find the least shadow of proof 
that they ever domiciled here. Those who desire to become 



' MISCELLANEOUS. 541 

more familiar with an account of these regicides, can find a full 
and able history of them by Dr. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale 
College, published in 1794. Dr. Ebenczer Brackett, of this 
town, Avho in 1793, wrote and had published a poem, prefixed by 
a history of Goffe, Whalley and Dixwell, the regicide judges, 
makes no mention that they ever resided hcre.^ 

1666. A number of the inhabitants of the town, this year 
petitioned the General Court for a grant of six thousand acres of 
land. The reason assigned for it was, that the land in Braintree 
was worn out, and would not afford them a comfortable support. 
The Court answered their petition by granting them the six 
thousand acres, but after having received this grant it ai")pears 
that they did not care much for it, as it was nearly half a centu- 
ry after, when probably nearly all of the original petitioners 
were dead, that some of the inhabitants of the town raked up 
this old matter to ascertain if their old title was good. Finding 
that it was, they had it located in Worcester County, from Avhich 
was organized the town of New Braintree, incorporated in 1751, 
nearly a century after the original grant was made. This year, 
the great pest of the apple orchards made its appearance, 
which was the canker worm. From an old account book we 
find that apples and turnips were one shilling a bushel ; the pay 
for one day's mowing was two shillings and two ponce ; a com- 
mon laborer's pay Avas two shillings per day, and ten pounds by 
the year; women received from four to five pounds per year; 
board by the week was four shillings. Turnips were an impor- 
tant article of diet at this time, as they were used as a substitute 
for potatoes. Potatoes were not cultivated in New England 
until about 1719. 

1670. " There being a meeting called, the inhabitants gener- 
ally met together, and it was voted and concluded there should 
be a church rate made to the sum of sixty-slx_ pounds, and dis- 
posed of as follows, viz : — Fifteen pounds to Mr. Buckley of Con- 
cord, twenty shillings a man for ministers that had been helpful! 
to the church, and the remainder should go to Josiah fllint. 

]. See Hutchinson's History, Holmes' Annals, Allen's American Biograph- 
ical Dictjonary and Palfrey's History. Also, see an article by Frederick A. 
Whitney, in Quincy Patriot, Dec, 18GU. 



542 MISCELLANEOUS.' 

1672. "Voted, to give the Rev. Mr. Fisk ,£00, ns in lieu 
thereof the use of a house and land. The Hclectmcn also deter- 
mined that the ancient way into the Commons over ]3arnabas 
Derifield's land shall be at the head of the furnace pond, and 
so into the way that goes into the mill pond." 

1G73. Action was taken this year by the town to regulate the 
holding of their town meetings; before this they had been very 
irregularly held at their neighboi^s' houses, where a few would 
gather together and transact the town business. " It was agreed 
by the inhabitants of the town of Uraintree, that all public meet- 
ings should be held upon the first second day of March, and the 
last second day of October annually, and that there should be 
uj)on these days a generall Town meeting of the whole inhabi- 
tants to consult and agree upon all things that may concern the 
good of the Town, and for the choice of Town officers." 

This year the difference about the old giist mill was settled. 
This old mill was located on the westerly side of the bridge, at 
the junction of School and Fort streets. It was this old mill 
that for a long period of years supplied the inhabitants of the 
town with their corn or Indian meal for their johnny cakes and 
hasty puddings. It was to this null John Adams for a few pen- 
nies took his favorite teacher's grist to have ground for her daily 
repast. The second owner of this mill was Major Gibbons, one 
of Morton's followers and convivial companions at the Mount.^ 

1. This account of Edward Gibbons ia taken from Mr. Palfrey's History of 
New England, Vol, II, p. 225 :— 

" Tlio history of Edward Gibbons was poouliar. lie first appears as one of 
Tliomas Morton's unsavory company at Merry Monnt. Probably ho was a 
brother of Ambrose Gibbous, and had been j)rovi()UHly with hini at the mouth 
of the Piscataqua, (see I'alfrey, Vol. I, p. 52;!, Nolo 1.) Before long ho joined 
the church in Boston, where he became a frooman nt the first court of I'Mections. 
—Mass. Rec, Vol. I, p. 3(>C>. 

" When he left Merry Mount, ho had not left off his old habits, for in August, 
after he became a citizen the Magistrates had occasion to fine him twenty shil- 
lings, for abusing himself disorderly with drinking too much strong drink, 
(Ibid 90.) lie, however, represented Charlestown as one of the two of every 
idantation appointed (Ui;i2) to confer with the court svbout raising of a public 
stock, (Ibid 95.) His military turn was recogni/.od in MVM and 1(;;{7, by his 
being promoted to be successively Gapt. Unilorhill's ensign and lieutenant (Ibid 
12<J, 1!)!,) though in the mean time, (March ;id, Kv'.i;,) ho had been di charged 
from service at the castle, (Ibid 105,) perhaps from having incurred suspicion 



MISCELLANEOUS. 543 

Major Gibbons also became quite conspicuous as Commander-in- 
Chief of the Confederate Colonial forces in the Narragansett 
wars. 

"At a County Court held at Boston, April 30th, 1GG2, Tliomas 
ffaxon. Sen., Peter Brackctt and Moses Taine, in the behalf of 
the Town of Braintray, l*laintiff, against Thos. Gatliffe of said 



of beiuK a partisan of Mrs. nutcliinson, (Ibid 21'"),) and in UMVJ lio was sent to 
train the baud at Weymouth, (Ibid 271t,) and in 1(141 he was appointed to see to 
the laying of the ordinance in Boston. He was frequently a J)eputy to the 
General Court, and was advanced to the Magistracy in 1050, (Ibid 111, 1S2.) 
In 1G45, at the time of the capture of the liristol ship in Boston Harbor, Gibbons 
as chief military oilicer of the trainband of the town of Boston, was, by the 
court, required and authorized to see the peace to bo kept, both in the said town 
and harbor from all liostile and mutinous attempts or insurrections. (Ibid 38. ) 
(This encounter in I?oston Harbor was more like a barbarous buccaneering 
attack, than a civilized action,) and was instructed, with Sedgwick of Charles- 
town, not to permit any ships to tight in the harbor without license from author- 
ity .—(Winthrop II, 247. ) He was undoubtedly a man of abilities and activity. 
Edward Johnson had a high opinion of his military capacity. Over the regi- 
ment of Suffolk was Major Edward Gibbons, who hath now the office of a 
Major-General also. He is a man of a resolute spirit, bold as a lion, being 
wholly tutored up in New England discipline, very generous and forward to pro- 
mote all military matters. His forts were well contrived, and batteries strong, 
and in good repair; his great artillery well mounted and cleanly kept, (Wonder 
"Working I'rovidence, &c., 191.) In his private capacity, (Jibbons was a mer- 
chant, and it is to bo feared, not a prudent, perhaps not a scrupulous one. Ho 
got invplved with La Tour; and by that ill-luck, according to AVinthrop, was 
quite undone. But he was not so undone but that the next year ho was send- 
ing a new ship of about one hundred tons to Virginia for tobacco. (Winthrop 

2, l!05. ) 

" There is an extraordinary little passage in Gibbons' life, which asks eluci- 
dation. In June, l(i;i7, AViuthrop (1, 2'2(], 227, &c.,) writes-' About this time 
came home a small pinnace of thirty tons, which had been forth eight months, 
and was given for lost. She went to the Bermuda, but by continued tempests 
was kept from thence, and forced to bear up for the West India, and being in 
great distress, arrived at Hispaniola, and not daring to go into any inhabited 
place there, but to go ashore in obscure places, and lived of turtles and hogs, 
etc. At last they were forced into a harbor, where lay a f rencli man-of-war 
with his prize, and bad surely made prize of them also, but that the provi- 
dence of Ciod so dispo.sod, as the captain, one Petfree had lived at I'iscatiuiuack, 
and knew the merchant of our bark, one Mr. Gibbons, whereupon he used them 
courteously, and for such commodities as she (Gibbons' vessel,) carried, freighted 
her with tallow, hides, etc., and sent home with her his prize, which he .-fold for 
a small price to bo paid in New England. lie brought home an aligarto, which 
he gave the Governor. 



544 MISCELLANEOUS. 

Town, Defendant, in an action of the case of Trespassing upon 
the Town's riglit in land tliat is or hath been flowed by the mill 
pond by mowing grass and challenging it as his own property, 
as also Trespassing upon the Town's Common in fencing in a 
part of it, and upon the Town's highway by his building, fencing 
and digging holes, according to attachments dated 23, 2, mo., 
1662. The plaintiffs withdrew their action. Both Plaintiff and 
Defendant appearing in Court, produced an agreement between 

" Such was the story told to Winthrop on the pinnace's return to Boston, 
though he does not say from whom he had it. The commander of the craft had 
not dared, ' to go to any inhabited place, and was in danger of being captured 
by a French man-of-war, though England was at peace with all the world. He 
went ashore in obscure places, and lived of turtles and hogs, etc., — possibly he 
went to Tortugas (the Turtle Island,) at the west end of Hispaniola, a custom- 
ary haunt of Buccaneers. The captain of the French man-of-war, one Petfree, 
had lived at Piscataquack, a fact undiscoverable from the local records. He 
had there known Mr. Gibbons, and for old acquaintance sake, as well as for 
such commodities as 'she (Gibbons' vessel) carried, freighted her with tallow, 
hides, etc. The Buccaneers are said to have derived their name from their 
business of killing the multitudinous herds of black cattle on the island for their 
hides and tallow. The Frenchman had a prize which he sold for a small price 
to be paid in New England. 

" If the story told to Winthrop looks as if it was framed to cover up a trans- 
action between a Massachusetts offlcial and a West India Buccaneer, I cannot 
help it. At the date of the story. Gibbons had not been very long a reformed 
man. In 1G37, the morals of the seas, especiallj' of the West India seas, were 
lax ; the maxims and usages of Drake and Hawkins and their compeers were 
not yet obsolete. 

" Some of the crew had prodigious experiences to relate, which were appro- 
priate grist for Cotton Mather's mill. He relates (Magnalia, Book VI, Chap. 1, 
§ 3,) that Gibbons' crew having been reduced by hunger to decide by lot who 
should die for the preservation of the rest, they prayed before doing execution on 
their doomed comrade, and there leaped a mighty fish into the boat. The same 
process had to be gone through a second time, they once again fall to their 
importunate prayers, and behold a second answer from above, a great bird lights 
and fixes itself uijon the mast. Still the suffering recurred; the third lot was 
drawn, and the devotions were repeated, when a vessel appeared, which proved 
a French pirate. The commander was one who had formerly received consider- 
able kindnesses of Major Gibbous, at Boston, and now replied cheerfully, 
" Major Gibbons, not a hair of you or your company shall perish, if it lies in my 
power to i)reserve you;" accordingly he supplied their necessities, and they 
made a comfortable end of their voyage." 

Major Gibbons was once an owner of the old grist mill, which was discontin- 
ued about the year 18ii5. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



545 



themselfes which was read and deposed to and desired that it 
might be recorded, viz :— ' Whereas a parcell of land about twen- 
ty years since was granted unto Ricliard Wright by the town 
of boston for the encouragement and furtherance of a water 
mill at Brantry, which said mill and pond together wdtli other 
estates hath been sold by the said Wright unto Major Gibbins, 
and by him unto Symon Lynde, and by the said Lynde assigned 
to Thomas Gatleiff, who now dwelleth on and possesseth the 
same, and whereas sundry differences are arisen concerning the 
mill pond and flowing thereof, by reason of divers apprehensions 
how and for what end the said pond was granted, therefore so it 
is that I, Thomas Gatleiff of Brantry, miller, do hereby own 
and declare that I do fully apprehend and adjudge that the mill 
and pond and flowing thereof was at first granted for such an 
end and purposes that the Town of Brantry might be served 
and accommodated thereby, and as it hath been hitherto so 
improved, and at this time is so, I declare and promise by God's 
assistance that I and my heirs and assigns shall so improve the 
said pond and no Avayes seek to cast down or demolish the same 
to the frustration of the Town's accommodation, as well as my 
own particular profit l)y grinding, and we, Thomas ffaxon. Sen., 
Peter Brackett and Moses Pain, part of the selectmen of Bran- 
try, and as chosen and appointed by the Town to end and 
settle the difference about the said pond, do also hereby in our 
names and in the name of the Town of Brantry, declare and 
own that we also do apprehend and judge that the fore men- 
tioned mill pond was granted as aforesaid for and to such an end 
and purpose as is above expressed, and do hereby for us and our 
successors of the Town of Brantry declare and promise that 
neither we nor they shall or will sefck to interscept, hinder, or 
molest the said Thomas Gatleiff", his heirs or assigns, for or touch- 
ing the said mill pond or flowing thereof, or in any way seek to 
demolish the same, but on the contrary gladly cheiish and coun- 
tanance the maintaining and upholding the same, for the ends 
and purposes aforementioned for Avhich it was granted. In wit- 
ness whereof the parties aforementioned have subscribed here- 
unto their hands this 30th of April, 1662. Thomas Gatleiff, 
Peter lirackett, Thos. ffaxon, Moses I'ain, at a County Court, 

70 



546 MISCELLANEOUS. 

30th April, 1662, Capt, Kichard Brackett, Lut. Rich. Cooke, 
appeared before the Gov'er and deposed that having subscribed 
their names as Wittnesses to this paper, were present and did 
both see and heare Thos. Gatleiff, in behalf of himself and Peter 
Brackett. Thos. ffaxon and Moses Pain, in behalfe of the 
Town of Brantry, signed and published the writing contained 
in this [paper] to be their agreement. Edw. Rawson, Receiver 
Witness hereunto. Rich. Cooke, Richard Brackett, James Peni 
man." 

The relics of this old dam can be seen to this day. It had a 
fourteen-foot head. The saw, or board and lumber mill was 
located in the vicinity of Brackett's wharf on the town river, 
or as it was then called. Mill river. 

1680. It may be of interest to some of the old families to 
know the common custom of this period of marriage contracts ; 
therefore we shall give the following specimen : — 

"Articles of agreement between William Vezy, Sen., of Bran- 
try, in the County of Suffolk, and Martin Saunders, concerning 
a marriage between Solomon Vezy, son of William Vezy and 
Elizabeth Saunders, daughter to Martin Saunders as followeth : — 
William Vezy, engageth and promiseth to give and set out to 
his son Solomon Vezy, half his now dwelling house and barn, in 
which he now liveth in Brantry, with half his pasture land and 
common land, and meadow land that lyeth about his house in 
stony Field, and half his marsh lying in Salters Farm, and half 
liis meadow at penny Ferry in Dorchester bounds, and half the 
land at his house which was given to Mr. Benjamin Tomi:)son by 
the town of Brantry. Also, the said William Vezy promiseth 
to give Solomon Vezy, at marriage, seventy acres of upland at 
Aldridge Farm in the wodds. It is to be understood that Solo- 
mon Vezy is to have half the dwelling house and barn in case 
he come and live in it. But after the death of his Father, Wil- 
liam Vezy, and his mother Ellen Vezy, he is to have half and 
enjoy it without any exception. But in case the Father and his 
Son Solomon do not agree to improve their land together, then 
they are to divide all by themselves, or by indifferent men chosen 
by themselves, and after division is made the Father is to have 
choice and so stand divided, only so long as the Father William 



•/ 



MISCELLANEOUS. 547 

Vezy and Mother Ellen livetli, and the Father William Vezy, 
promiseth to give a yoke of oxen and a horse, and such movables 
as are given to Solomon in his Father's will made in 1679." 

" Articles of agreement between Martin Saunders of Brantry 
and William Vezy concerning a marriage between Elizabeth 
Saunders daughter of Martin Saunders and Solomon Vezy son of 
William Vezy : — 

" The said Martin Saunders, Father of Elizabeth Saunders, 
promiseth to give and set out for his daughter Elizabeth upon 
marriage with Solomon Vezy, ninety pounds as followeth, thirty 
pounds as was given her by her Grandfather Hardier, to be a 
part of the ninety pounds, and three acres of iipland lying before 
Goodman Haydcns house, sixty rods long and eighty rods wide, 
next the Count}'^ road way at thirty pounds, and two acres salt 
meadoAv at Penny Fen-y at twenty and forty pounds, in mova- 
ble or household stuffs, or cattle, and as long as their Father 
Saunders and Son Solomon can agree he shall have house room, 
and the use of half the barn, rent free, and in case the Son Solo- 
mon and daughter Elizabeth will remove, the Father Saunders 
do's promise to give to his Son Solomon and daughter Elizabeth 
ten pounds towards building a house, Alwayse to be understood 
that if the marriage between Solomon Vezy and Elizabeth Saun- 
ders do not succeed, then these presents to be void and of no 
effect. Agreed upon and signed October twentyeth, 1680." 

1682. " Lieut Edmund Quincy, Samuel Tompson, Alexan- 
der Marsh, Christopher Webb, selectmen, were instructed to 
lesse the Town lands to Benjamin Tompson the schoolmaster for 
twelve years." 

The Rev. Noadiah Russell, a tutor in Harvard College, makes 
the following allusion in his diary of 1682, to Mr. Parmen- 
ter : — " Second month, (April,) 6th day. There was a strange 
report of a man at Braintrec, Parmenter by name, who after 
some sickness pretended to strange revelations from an Angel 
under a pine tree, viz : — ' Yet ye world should have very happy 
times ; yet Mr. Terry should be l*rcsident of Harvard College, 
and he himself minister in ]\[r. Terry's room, he pretended to be 
miraculously inspired with learning, but it is to be feared he will 
find himself deluded." 



548 MISCELLAKEOrS. 

1689. "It was voted that Samuel Speer sliould build a little 
house, 7 foot long and 5 foot wide, and set it by his house to 
secure his sistei's, good Avife Witty being distracted, and provide 
for her, and the town by vote engaged to see him well payed 
and satisfied which shall be thought reasonable." 

We find recorded this year, the amount of the town tax as 
assessed upon the inhabitants. " It was voted that the Town 
rate should be made foure score pounds, one-half to be paid in 
money, and the other half in Country pay." 

1692. At this period, or somewhat over a half century after 
the town was incorporated, the inhabitants seem to have settled 
into fair working order, as this year we find for the first time 
recorded a full list of town officers, viz : — 

" Tovm Clerk, — Samuel Tompson, 3d. 

" Selectmen, — Alexander Marsh, John Baxter, Joseph Penni- / 
man, Nathaniel Wels, Joseph alenn. 

" Commissioner, — Ensign Samuel Penniman. 

" Constables, — John Webb and Samuel Payne. 

" Titliingmen, — Caleb Huborff, Thomas White, Martin Sand- 
ers, Samuel Savill, Theopilus Curtis. 

" Surveyors of IligJivmys, — Nehemiah hayden, John French, 
John Kingley, Jr., Joseph Adams, Sen. 

" Viewers of Fences, — For Monoticutt, Corporall John Lamb 
and Dependence ffrench ; for the fore fields, Peter Nucom and 
Samuel Nucom ; for the stony fields, Samuel Bass, carpenter, 
Joseph Bass, joiner ; for the farm fields, John Bass, Jr., benimin 
Neal." 

" Voted, that the present Selectmen and Caleb huborff, Sam- 
uel Peniraan, decon parmitor, and Thomas Bass, and Samuel 
Tompson are chosen to seat the meeting-house by appointing 
persons to their places. It was further voted that the present 
selectmen are impoAvered by the Town to make order for the 
Town for the year 1693, for the making up of fencis, fetering 
horsis, and hogs kind, yoaking and wringing of swine, and by 
making orders to restrain sheep by putting them to a keeper or 
keepers." 

July 16th, 1694. The first Town Assessors chosen were : — 
"John Ruggles, Sen., John Cleverly, Sen., and William Veasey." 



MISCELLANEOUS. 549 

At a meeting held Dec. 24th, 1604, we find the first specific 
appropriation made by the town recorded, viz : — " Five pounds 
for Jolin Belcher's widow's innintenance, thirty shillings to 
Thomas Revell for keeping William Dimhlebee, and twenty-five 
shillings for ringing of the bell, and sweeping the meeting-house 
in the yenr 1694, and seven shillings to William Savill, for 
Dimblebee's cofin, eight shillings for mending the pound, and 
eight shillings to the Constable for warning the Town, and five 
sliillings for the exchange of a Town cow to Samuel iSpeer, and 
ten shillings to Thomas bas, for debt for ringing the bell for- 
merly, this to be raised by rate." 

The first town debt that we find any record of, was the ten 
shillings due Mr. Bass for ringing the boll for the former year, 
and was by vote of the town to be raised by taxation. 

1696-7. " On the Sabbath, 2 day of February last some of our 
Sallops at anchor on Sabbath day night, and being to earless, 
not keeping a watch the Indians and French come on them 
unwares, killed one man, and took the rest prisoners, and all the 
Sallop being six in number, of Avhich some of the men as Avas 
said come home a Avhile after." 

1697. Mr. William Rawson, desiring a higher seat in the 
synagogue than his neighbors, asked permission of the town to 
alloAV him this privilege, which Avas granted him by the following 
vote : — " Voted, that Mr. William Rawson shonld have the priv- 
ilege of making a seat for his family between, or upon the two 
beams over the pulpit, not darkening the pulpit." 

In Marshall's manuscript diary we find the following incidents, 
which Ave Avere alloAved to copy through the kindness of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society: — "Mr. Ebenezer Crane had 
his house and all in it burnt at noonday, Sept. 18th, 1697, and a 
fcAV days after another house Avas burnt and all that Avas in it. 
There died this year 12 groAvn persons, viz : — Lieut. Twelves, 
goody Bradford, Neal Campbell, goody Nucum, John Sanders, 
his Avife, Thomas Holbrook, Ephrim Arnold, Mrs. Faxon, Mr. 
(Juincy, goody Thayer and John Rewett, old Mr. Holbrook, also 
12 children, viz :— John benches. Will. Vesey, Soil. Vesey, John 
Sanders, Moses pain, John pain, Ben. Neal, Nici Savel, Mr. 
Rawson, Samuel Bagley and Black Mingoes." 



550 ' MISCELLANEOUS. 

1699. Mr. Rawson by vote of the town was released from all 
charges from land in controversy between Boston and Brain- 
tree. 

"The inhabitants of Braintree Lawfully convened, voted that 
the Town would stand by the persons who have the Town 
Lands leased to them, in defending them from Mr. Tompson 
their late Schoolmaster, they paying rent of said Land to the 
Town Treasurer for the present school." 

" Voted, That John Bagley of Roxbury should have four 
pounds for keeping Abigail Neal, Providing he give the Town 
no further trouble." 

1700. The land controversy between Boston and Braintree 
continued. 

1701. "It was then voted, that the Selectmen shall be and 
are now impowered to call for, and Recover the entry money 
mentioned May 13th, 1700." This vote had reference to a vote 
of the town obliging every scholar, from the 18th of August, to 
pay his entry of one shilling to the town, and so successively 
for every quarter for the whole year. This payment was to go 
towards paying the schoolmaster for the years 1700 and 1701. 
If not paid, it was to be collected by suit at law against the par- 
ents or masters concerned. 

Nov. 28th, 1710. "Voted, that the Town should allow six 
pounds for Keeping Bulls to run at large from the 1st of March 
next to March, 1712, to be paid at the end of the year, every 
Bull to be a good sufficient Bull of 2 years old, and no man 
shall be allowed more than twenty shillings for a Bull. The 
following persons entered their bulls: — Thomas Wales entered a 
bull to run at large; Peter Marquand, John Ruggles, Samuel 
Cleverly, Col. Quincy, Dea. Samuel White, Samuel Belcher and 
Eliezer Veasey." This custom of the town of engaging bulls and 
boars to run at large for the purpose of stocking their farms was 
continued at intervals for about forty years; forty-two pounds 
to be raised for the purpose of defraying town expenses. 

March 2d, 1712-1.3. "It was voted, that the present Select- 
men be a committee fully impowered to stake out the Ancient 
way not exceeding a rod wide over Rock Island creek to the 
town's land meadow, with tliis i:)rovision, that the particular 



MISCELLANEOUS. 551 

Persons that are interested in the land and meadows on Rock 
Island side and their heirs forever, do bear their proportionable 
part, besides their part, as they are inhabitants of the Town, to 
the making and maintaining of it." 

April 11th, 1715. This seems to have been the first period 
wlien the announcement of intentions of marriage were made 
l)ubUc. "Voted, that the Publishments of intentions of mar- 
riage shall for the future be set up upon the foresidc of the most 
Public door of the meeting-house." 

The Narragansett wars had been so expensive that they had 
left the Province largely in debt. To relieve them of this em- 
barrassment, the Court issued one hundred thousand pounds in 
Bills of Credit, and in 1720-21, the town took the following 
action on disposing of these Bills of Credit : — " Voted, that 
there shall not be disposed of them in Larger Quantities than 25 
pounds, nor less than 20, and that they be let at 6 per cent. 
John Quincy, Joseph Crosbie and Benj. Webb were appointed 
trustees for these bills, on the part of the town. The Hon. Ed- 
nmnd Quincy, John Quincy and Joseph Crosbie were the three 
persons accepted by vote of the town to have their part of these 
bills in the Province Treasury let to ; they paying the said sum 
of one hundred pounds of five hundred and forty-eight, down 
and giving good security for the whole." 

1725. " Whoever brings a black bird to the Selectmen killed 
shall receive one penny a piece, or kill a ground Squirrell shall 
receive three pence i^er head." 

1727. The Punkapog Indians having been swindled and 
their rights so often trespassed upon for years, that they in 
Council concluded to i)rotect themselves against these innova- 
tions by petitioning the Legislature U) appoint Col, John Quincy 
in whose integrity they had the utmost confidence. In accord- 
ance with their desire, the Court appointed Col. Quincy, who 
for over twenty years served them with the greatest fidelity. 
The following is their petition, viz : — 

*' To the Honourable William Dummer, Esq.^ Lieut. Go'o'r. : — 

"The Humble i)etition of your Hon. Humble petitioners, the 
native Indian proprietors of punkapaugue plantation, in the 



552 MISCELLANEOUS. 

town of stonghton, Humbly showeth, Tliat whereas some of 
our English neighbours are too ready to ineroach upon our tim- 
ber and our wood, cutting it down to make coals with, and 
Damnifying us greatly thereby, whereof we are necesitated to 
pray for the imposition and assistance of some English person 
impowered by this great General Court, to take the case of us 
that we may have Justice done us, and that we be not wronged. 
We humbly pray that Maj. John Quincy, Esq., may be fully im- 
powered and authorized by this Great and General Court, to look 
after us in all Respects whereby we may be under a better Reg- 
ulation, than we have been of Late, as to our wood, timber, 
orchards, meadows and upland, that we have Still in our hands, 
and that he may issue and settle any small differences between 
any of our English neighbours, all which we leave with your 
Honors most w^ise consideration, and Humbly pray as in duty 
bound. 

Amos A. Ahatton, Thomas T. Ahatton, 

Hezakiaii H. Squamangu, George -\- Hunter, 

Simon S. George. 
" punkapaugue, June 2, 1727." 

—Mass. Archives, Vol. XXXI, p. 143. 

1728. The town voted to accept the sixty thousand pounds 
of Bills of Credit.-^ The lowest denomination to be let out was 
ten i^ounds ; highest amount to be loaned, forty pounds. The 
trustees chosen were Benjamin Neal, Joseph Crosbie, Nehemiah 
Hayden, John Thayer, Jr., and Samuel Curtis. 

March 11th, 1734-5. " Voted, that a petition be preferred to 

1. " In 1745, another expedition was titted out from Massachusetts against 
Louisburg-. It was successful in capturing that fortress; but the expense 
demanded a fresh issue of from UJOOO.OOO to ;!,000,000 pounds in bills of credit, 
which was declared lawful money, but this declaration did not hold good, as it 
depreciated, and the holders of it lost a large amount by its decline. One hun- 
dred pounds sterling in specie, or a bill on London, was equivalent in value to 
lawful paper money of New England, 1100 pounds. Great Britain soon after- 
wards ceded Louisburg to I^^rauce, greatly to the mortification, but certainly to 
the advantage of Massachusetts, for the latter received from the British Treasu- 
ry about 183,000 pounds, on account of the expenses of the Louisburg expedi- 
tion, and with this sum comjiounded for the redemption of her paper bills. 
The composition was under two shillings in the pound sterling, or fifty shillings 
in lawful pajjer money, to one ounce of specie money was given." 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



553 



the General Court to Grant the Town something as a considera- 
tion, and in lieu of the four thousand acres of land taken from 
us and added to the Town of Milton, and Likewise to Grant us 
something Gratis for our having kept a Free Latin School for 
about ninety years." Edmund Quincy, John Quincy and Ben- 
jamin Webb were chosen a committee to manage this affair. 

March 17th, 1736. "Voted, that the Town Meetings for the 
future shall be held half the time in the old meeting-house in 
the North Precinct, and the other half in the Middle Precinct." 

March 6th, 1739. Dr. Benjamin Stedman was chosen Sur- 
veyor of the Highways. 

1740. The town voted that Suffolk County should be divided 

into two Counties. 

In 1741, it was voted that the constable should receive the 
Land Bank Bills^ for the payment of taxes and pay it into 



1. About this period or earlier, various schemes were projected to relieve the 
Provinces of their financial difficulties, and the Land Bank was one of these 
swindling institutions. " The laud bank, or manufactory scheme, which was 
begun or rather revived in the year 173U, and produced such great and lasting 
mi"schiefs, that a particular relation of the rise, progress and overthrow of it 
may be of use to discourage and prevent any attempts of the like nature in 
future a-es. By a strange conduct in the General Court, they had been issuing 
bills of Credite for eight or ten years annually for charges of government, and 
. bein- willing to ease each present year, they had put off the redemption of the 
biUs^as far as they could; but the Governor being restrained by his instructions 
from going beyond the year 1741, that year was unreasonably loaded with thirty 
or forly thousand pounds sterling taxes, which, according to the general opinion 
of the people, it was impossible to levy, not only on account of the large sum, 
but because all the bills in the Province were but just sufficient to pay it, and 
there was very little silver or gold, which by an act of government was allowed 
to be paid for taxes as equivalent to the bills. A scheme was laid before the 
General Court by Mr. Hutchinson, then one of the Eepresentatives of Boston, 
in which it was proposed to borrow in England upon interest, and to import 
into the Province a sum in silver equal to all the bills then extant, and there- 
with to redeem them from possessors and furnish a currency for the inhabitants, 
and repay the silver at distant periods, which would render the burden of taxes 
tolerable by an e-iual division on a number of future years, and would prevent 
the distress of trade by the loss of the only instrument, the bills of credite, 
without another provided in its place, but this proposal was rejected. One great 
frailty of human nature, an inability or indisposition to compare a distant, 
though certain inconvenience or distress with a present convenience or delight, 
is said by some strangers who come among us from Europe, to be prevalent in 
Americans, so as to make it one of their distinguishing characteristics. Be that 



1 



554 MISCELLANEOUS. 

the town treasury. This bank was established by a com- 
pany of Boston merchants who were to issue bills of credit, 
which they promised to receive as money ; real estate to a cer- 
tain amount was to be security that they would fulfil their 
engagements. These merchants were persons in straightened 
circumstances, or in financial difficulties, and some who pos- 
sessed real estate but had no money, while others were men of 
no substance whatever. It finally worked into politics, and the 
controversy was long and bitter on these private banks, dividing 
towns, parishes and jjarticular families, until it finally burst up, 
to the great and serious loss of the community, and is another 
fair illustration of the idiosyncrasy of poor human nature, whose 
folliqs are so often repeated. 

March, 1741. The noted Joseijh Gooch was chosen one of the 
Selectmen of the town. He first appears on the records as mod- 
erator, Aug. 25th, 1739. 

1746. The town voted the securing of the town's stock of 
powder, and the Selectmen were instructed to build a " Closite 
one the Beams of the middle precinct meeting-house (if it be 
allowed of), as a suitable place to keep the powder." 

as it may, it is certain that at this time a great number of private persons, 
alleging that the preceding general Court having suffered the Province to be 
brought into distress from which it was not in the power of their successors to 
afford relief, the royal instructions being a bar to any future emission of bills 
until all that were then extant should be redeemed, resolved to interpose. Royal 
instructions were no bar to the proceedings of private persons. The project of 
a bank in the year 1714, was revived. The projector of that bank now put him- 
self at the head of seven or eight hundred persons, some few of rank and good 
estate, but generally of low condition among the plebeians, and of small estate, 
and many of them, perhaps insolvent. This notable company were to give 
credite to 150,000 pounds, lawful money, to be issued in bills, each person being 
to mortgage a real estate in proportion to the sums he subscribed and took out, 
or to give bond with two surities, but personal security was not to be taken for 
more than 100 pounds, from any one person. Ten directors and a treasurer 
were to be chosen by the company. Every subscriber or partner was to pay 
three per cent, interest for the sum taken out, and five per cent, of the princi- 
pal; and he that did not pay bills might pay the produce and manufacture of 
the Province at such rates as the directors from time to time should set, and 
they should commonly pass in lawful money. The pretence was that, by thus 
furnishing a medium and instrument of trade, not only the inhabitants in gen- 
eral would be better able to procure the Province bills of Credite for their taxes, 
but trade, foreign and inland, would revive and tiourish. The fate of the pro- 



MISCELLANEOUS. 555 

1751. A controversy between the town and Benjamin Owen 
about the money he had collected of the town tax, but not re- 
ceiving a suitable compensation, they agreed to sell his property 
to reimburse the town. 

Jan. 3d, 1752. The following is the first case of kidnapping 
that we have found :— " A Petition of John Scott of Braintrec, 
in the County of Suffolk, sheweth that he was lawfully married 
to Lydia Thiwing of Cambridge, soon after which he went a 
voyage to sea, and left his wife with child, which child, soon 
after it was bora, was secretly conveyed away by one Samuel 
Spear, and now is called by his name, but the petitioner is cer- 
tain he is his son, and has received him as such of the said 
Spear. He therefore prays he may have Liberty to change his 
name to that of John Scott." 

1755. There having been so much controversy about the con- 
tinuation of Summer street as having been the old Plymouth 
road, we will here give from the official records the laying 

ject was thought to depend upon the opinion which the general Court should 
form of it. It was necessary, therefore, to have a house of representatives well 
disposed. Besides the eight hundred persons subscribers, the needj' part of the 
Province in general favoured the sclieme. One of their votes will go as far in 
popular elections as one of the most opulent. The former are most numerous; 
and it appeared that by far the majority of the representatives for 1740, were 
subscribers to or favourers of the scheme, and they have ever since been dis- 
tinguished by the name of the land bank house. 

'•"Men of estates and the principal merchants in the Province abhorred the 
project and refused to receive the bills, but great numbers of shop keepers, who 
had lived for a long time before upon the fraud of a depreciating currency, and 
many small traders, gave credit to the bills. The directors, it was said, by a 
vote of the company, became traders, and issued just what bills they thought 
proper, without any fund or security for their ever being redeemed. They pur- 
chased every sort of commodity, ever so much a drug, for the sake of pushing 
off their bills, and by one means or other, a largo sum, perhaps fifty or sixty 
thou.saud pounds, was abroad. To lessen the temptation to receive the bills, a 
company of merchants agreed to issue their notes, or bills redeemable by silver 
and gold at distant periods, much like the scheme in 173.3, and attended with 
no better effect. The Governor exerted himself to blast this fraudulent under- 
taking,— the land bank. Not only such civil and military officers as were direc- 
tors or'partners, but all wlio received or paid any of the bills, were displaced. 
The Governor negatived the person clio.sen speaker of the house, being a direc- 
tor of the bank, and afterwards negatived thirteen of the new elected counsel- 
lors, who were .lirectors or partners in or reputed favourers of the scheme. But 
all was insufficient to suppress it."— Hutch. Hist., Vol. U, p. 352. 



556 MISCELLAlSrEOUS. 

out of this lane into the South Commons, viz : — " May 14tli, 
1755. To lay out a way to the South Commons, Beginning at 
the way near Mi*. Apthorp's (which Avas then located on School 
street),^ then adjoining all along to the land of the Proprietors 
in that quarter, until we came to the corner of Mr. Isaac New- 
comb's fence, near his house, and have allowed the said way 
one rodd and half wide and no more, excepting in some certain 
places by reason of some inconvenience, viz : — One place near 
Mr. Ephriam Pray's house we have left out a small hill of Rocky 
Land, and another near Mr. Benjamin Cleverly's house, and an- 
other near Mr. Joseph Pray's barn, the above said Avay to be 
fenced out and lye open for the use of the town." 

This year the town was visited with quite a shock of an earth- 
quake, as will be seen by the following statement as related by 
Mr. John Adams in his diary, Nov. 18th, 1755 : — " We had a 
very severe shock of an earthquake. It continued near four 
minutes. I then was at my father's house in Braintree, and 
awoke out of my sleep in the midst of it. The house seemed to 
rock and reel and crack, as if it would fall in ruins about us. 
Chimneys were shattered by it within one mile of my father's 
house." This refers to one of the most memorable events of 
the kind which ever took j^lace. The destruction of the City of 
Lisbon occurred on the first day of this month. Although less 
severe in its effects on this side of the Atlantic, it is yet remem- 
bered as the worst ever known in English America. It seems 
to have been greater in Massachusetts than any other Colony. 
In Boston, many chimneys and walls of houses were much shat- 
tered, but no houses thrown down. The government noticed it 
by appointing a day of fasting and j^rayer. 

1756. "Mr. Jonathan Wild died with an awful Protuberance 
on his back, attended with a cancerous humor that spread on his 
body, and rose to nigh the bigness of half a bushel. July 16th, 
1756." 

Since Avriting uj^on the schools we have made a discovery of 
another schoolhouse on the training field, which was located on 
what is now the corner of Washington and Hancock streets ; at 

1. That portion of this estate where the old Apthorp mansion formerly stood, 
is now occupied by the author. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 557 

that time Washington street was not built. This was but a 
short distance from the new one built in 1793 and destroyed by- 
fire in 1815. It also apj^ears by the records that it was sold by 
the town in 1797. "We think we are a little ahead of the " Old- 
est Inhabitants " this time, as they seem to be much surprised at 
this discovery, and are very doubtful as to its ever having ex- 
isted. They never had heard of it, but the evidence is beyond 
a doubt, as a plan of it can be seen filed with the town docu- 
ments. This plan is drawn on the deed of Mr. Burrell, to tlie 
toM'n, for land taken in running the line between his estate and 
the training field then in possession of the town. 



"VVe shall here endeavor as far as we are able to give the names 
of the first settlers of the old town of Braintree, and the date 
their names appear on the town, parish and other records, that 
are now extinct. This enumeration is given for a few years 
over a century after the incorporation of tlie town. The date to 
some of the names we are unable to give for the reason that they 
are illegible. There are persons now residing in the territory 
that once comprised the town of Braintree, that bear the same 
name of those that are extinct, but descended from other fami- 
lies. It appears that some names were spelled in a number of 
different ways that referred to the same person : — 

" William Allise, Alyes, Ellis, all meant for the same person, 
1646; Francis Always 1696, Cornelius Austin, 1733; William, 
Ames 1647, Benjamin Aldridge 1651, John Albee 1641, Joseph 
Alsen 1092, George Aldridg 1044. 

"Daniel Barber 1732, Nicholas Bond 1677, Thomas Barrett 
1651, Samuel Bronson lOSO, Charles Brigs 1051, Thomas Bolter 
1715, Simon Brient or Briant 1094, James Bagley 1714, Thomas 
Basset 1755, Nathaniel Bullard 1715, Mathew Barns 1647, Thos. 
Billington 1655, Alexander Bradley 1744, Geo. Breisner (prob- 
ably Briesler) 1753. 

"Joseph Crosby 1677, William Clough 173S, James Cours 
1647, Richard Chapman 1647, Josiah Chapin 1667, Clement 
Cock 1087, Thomas ChM 1708, Thomas Carow 1712, Henry 
Carley 1720, LaAvrence Coi)clan(l 1652, John Corvis 1735, James 
Conweys 1651. 



558 MISCELLANEOUS. 

"John Dorsett or Dosset 1656, Edward Dorr 1720, John Dell, 
John Darling 1664; Samuel Deering 1647, John Donnarn 1644, 
John Daly 1662, Dermon Downing 1672, Dennis Darly 1663, 
Valintin Decrow 1678, Barnabus I)orifield or Dorifall or Deni- 
fall (spelled either way) 1651, William Dimblebee 1694, Nicho- 
las Durant 1694, Peter Diense 1708, Samuel Davis 1653, Samuel 
Drew, Edward Ding 1720, Isaac Dogget 1725, Edward Dirby 
1697-8, Dennis Darley or Darlin 1663, Lambart Despard 1692, 
William Deza 1651. 

" Elezer Ezgate or Isgate or Agate 1675, Richard Ellison 
1646, Francis Eliot 1650, Elisha Eaton 1736, Timothy Everett 
1706. 

"John ffrizell 1663, Thomas Fenton 1700, Benjamin Fessen- 
den 1756, Old ffuffurr 1672, John Francis 1659, Joseph Ford, 
Rev. Henry Flynt 1642, Thomas Flatnvan 1641, John ffrances 
1659, Samuel Fisher 1677, Rev. Moses Fisk 1671, Goodman Fos- 
ter 1655. 

"Peter George 1653, John Glom, Samuel Gulivor 1717, John 
Girny 1661, Jolm Gilker 1727, John Greenlier 1665, Francis 
Good 1649, Thomas Gatlive or GatlifE 1655, Charles Grise or 
Griser 1656, James Giles 1669, John Graves (who wrought in 
the iron works) 1690, Humphrey Greggs 1655, Robert Gutridge 
1656, John Gearing 1645, John Grows 1690, John Gent or Jent 
1721, Jolm Grove 1720, Francis Goule or Gouls 1649, Joseph 
Ganett 1717. 

"JohnHardman 1652, Richard Hardir 1657, Richard Harris 
1663, Joseph Harper 1665, John Haiford 1679, Abraham Ileines 
or Hains 1685, Ebenezer Hinkley 1713, Daniel Higins, Nathan- 
iel Hews, James Habersham 1733, Ebenezer Houghton 1733, 
John Herdin 1684, John Harbour 1655, Timothy How, Rev. 
John Hancock 1735, John Hastings 1645, Thomas Hatman 1645, 
Jonathan Hardings 1679. 

"Samuel Irons 1677, Samuel Inman 1648. 

"Thomas Juell 1648, Ephriam Jones 1708, Peter Jusee 1708. 

"Stephen Kinsly 1639, Samuel Kinsley 1656, Ebenezer King, 
Richard Kent 1699, John Kingley 1692. 

".John Lambe 1678, Robert Lamont 1728, Geo. Ludkin 1047, 
Daniel Lagaree 1709, Ebenezer Lamson 1723, Joseph Ludden 



MISCELLANEOUS. 559 

1717, Thomas Lowell 1643, (Maj.) Lambert 1692, Daniel Levit 
or Lovitt 1648, Daniel Liscome 1717, Ebenc/.er Lambson 1716. 

"Thomas Mosset 1089, George Mountjoy 1697, Henry Mauds- 
ly 1645, John Marslinl 1691, Modica Mckusett 1690, Peter Mark- 
quand 1719, James Mycall 1657, William JMoss 17-21, John Mills 
1654, John Morley 1647, Nathaniel Molt 1657, William Mullen 
1672, John Moor 1661, James March 1712, Ebene/er Miller 1727, 
Thomas Mekins 1645, Thomas Matson, Matasom, Madson or 
Mattson 1640, George Mearsh 1752. 

"Grise Nichols 1719, Noah Numan 1669, John Needham 
1670, Hanary Noll 1653, Henry Neale 1647, William Nedam 
1650, Samuel Noyce 1748, William Noyes 1745. 

" Benj. Orcut 1744, William Osboune or Orsbn 1646, William 
Owen 1654, James Oberton 1745. 

"Robert Parsons 166^ Cordine Pocock 1708, Arthur Powell 
1693, John, Paris 1664, Joseph Plumly 1672, James Puffer 1651, 
Robert Parmenter 1648, Moses Paine 1646, Jonathan Paddle- 
ford or Padlefoot 1679, Arthur Powel 1695. 

"Francis Rose 1649, John Rockwood 1662, Richard Russ 
1708, Thomas Revell 1694, George Ruggles 1648, John Randall 
1666. 

"Benjamin Sylvester 1729, Edmond Sheffield 164G, Stephen 
Scott 1664, Samuel Staples 1644, Daniel Shed 1642, John Stone 
1663, Jos. Stephens 1677, Nathaniel Shove 1693, Samuel Spen- 
cer 1686, Nicholas Salter 1695, Jabez Searl 1713, Josejih Swain 
1715, Frederick Syder 1753, George Martin Stubing 1753, Ben- 
jamin Soper 1721, Peter Scott 1643, Martin Sanders 1639, Peter 
Shotter 1654, William Scant 1655, Samuel Shepard 1666, Na- 
thaniel Storey 1724, Dr. Benj. Stedman 1734, John Scale 1739, 
Robert Stevens 1672, Thomas Shepard 1(573, Benjamin Stott 
1643, P'rederick Syder 1753, Nathaniel Sumner 1745, John Stod- 
dard 1739. 

"William Tosh 1660, William Tinge or Tyinge 1640, James 
Tuberfield 1700, Robert Twelves or Tueles 1655,William Tomp- 
son 1639, John Taylor 1702, William Tomas 171 S, Thomas 
Thalhson or Chathson 1665. 

"Leonard Vassell 1730, Lewis Vassell 1730. 

" Alexander Winchester 1640, Richard Wright 1640, John 



560 MISCELLANEOUS. 

Wriford or Biford 1G24, John Wendall, Thomas Wilmott 1047, 
David Wnlsbec 1051, John Woodlander 1651, Tiinotliy Winter 
1670, Stephen Willis 1674, George Willy 1672, Daniel Wilord 
1698, Edward Willson, Edward Willard, Samuel Wright, Na- 
thaniel Wardel 1722, Cln-istopher Webb, Shardrach Wilbor 
1700, Nicholas Wood 1645, Thomas Waterman 1645, John 
Wheately 1645, Arthur Waring 1645, Timothy Winter 1685, 
Nath. Waters 1687, Daniel Weld 1647, Daniel Willard 1696. 
"James York 164;J, John Yearley 1693." 



The extreme length of the town from the westerly line on 
liliie Hills to the east point of l^uincy Neck, 8 2-5 miles; fi'om 
the same westerly line to the easterly rock on Scjuantum, 7 1-2 
miles; the extreme breadth from Neponset JJridge to Quincy 
Point Bridge 5 miles ; from Stone Temple to State street, Bos- 
ton, over the Neponset Bridge, 8 miles and a small fraction ; 
from near Ne})onset Bridge to the Stone Temple, 2 miles, 5 fur- 
longs, 24 rods; distance over Milton Hill to, Boston, from the 
Stone Tem})le, 1 1-2 miles, and six rods farther than over the 
Neponset Bridge ; from the Stone Temple to the Quincy Point 
Bridge, 1 mile, 7 furlongs, 1 rod ; from the Stone Temple to 
High street on Penn's Hill, 1 mile, 2 furlongs, 'B rods; from the 
Stone Temple to Dedham Court House, over Milton Bridge, 10 
miles, 7 furlongs, 29 rods ; over Paul's Bridge the route is about 
10 miles; from the Stone Tenii)le to Hingham over the Hing- 
ham Turnpike, 6 miles, 4 furlongs, 26 rods ; from the Stone 
Temphi to Wales' Hotel (so called), Weymouth Landing, over 
the turn})ike, 3 miles, 28 rods ; from the Stone Temi)le to the 
junction of Hancock and School streets, near Ej>iscopal Church, 
3 furlongs, 24 rods ; from the Stone Temple to North Iiraintree 
meeting-house, 2 miles, 2 furlongs, 11 rods; length of Hancock 
street from its junction wilh School to Neponset Bridge, 3 miles 
1 furlong, 8 rods; lengtli ol" Washington street, 1 mile, 7 fur- 
longs, 1 rod. 

In giving an account of the loads in Quincy at the time it 
was set off from Braintree, we neglected to mention Woods 
road, now Granite street, which then ran from the old Plymouth 
road, now Hancock street, to Scotch Pond road. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 561 

By a legislative enactment, in 1859, the office of Trinl Jus- 
tice was created. A Court of this nature -was establislied in 
Quincy, and William S. Morton and John Q. Adams, Esquires, 
were commissioned for the purpose of trying all cases within 
the jurisdiction of it. Trial Justices Avere intended by this leg- 
islative enactment to take the ])lace of Justices of the Peace, 
so far as criminal jurisdiction was concerned, but the power 
to try civil cases was continued in the Justices of the Peace. 
In 1872, the Legislature established the District Courts. The 
one in this town was called the East Norfolk Court, and it has 
continued to exist by the same name to the present time. It 
takes the place of the Justice Courts before mentioned, Avith the 
additional authority of trying civil cases. The following towns 
are included within its judicial limits, viz: — Quincy, Weymouth, 
Braintree, Milton, Randolph, Holbrook and Cohasset. It has a 
much greater criminal and civil jurisdiction than was formerly 
vested in the Courts held by Trial Justices. It is also a Court 
of Keoord. The judicial officers that preside over it are as fol- 
lows : — One Justice, two Special Justices and a Clerk. This 
Court holds daily sessions at nine o'clock, in Quincy. The 
Court-room is on Hancock street, contiguous to the old Hancock 
Cemetery. 

The present officers of the Court are : — Everett C, Burapus, 
of Weymouth, Justice ; James A. Tower of Randolph, and Sol- 
omon J. Beals of Cohasset, Assistant Justices ; J. White Bel- 
cher, of Randolph, Clerk. 

A Probate Court is also held in this town once a month at 
the School Committee's room, in the Town House. 

At the March meeting of 1878, the town appropriated three 
thousand eight hundred dollars, to purchase a steam i)ump, erect 
a house for its shelter and pipe the streets as far as the approi)ri- 
ation would allow. The Board of Fire Engineers was instructed 
to take charge of this improvement. As soon as arrangements 
could be made, a lire-proof house of brick and iron was con- 
structed at the corner of Hancock street and. Cottage avenue. 
Hancock street was piped with a six-inch iron pipe from the 
corner of Elm street to near the corner of Washington street, 
and six hydrants attached. The trial experiments and its work- 
72 



562 MISCELLANEOUS. 

ings since, have given perfect satisfaction. The pump selected 
is of the Blake 2:)attern, and its capacity for discharging water 
is five hundred gallons a minute. The steam boiler is a patent, 
called the Herreshoff boiler, manufactured at Bristol, Rhode 
Island. Its rapidity for generating steam has not been sur- 
passed, if it has ever been equalled, as it requires but five min- 
utes from the time the fire is lighted to supply the pump with 
sufficient steam to put it in working order. This improvement, 
for economy and protection to property from fires within the 
range of the j^urap, is a great addition to the fire department of 
this town. 

We find Market Pond, at Hough's Neck, mentioned in the old 
records as early as 1700. Whether it derived its name from a 
market having been located there, we are unable to say. 

The following is a list of the deputies or rejDresentatives from 
old Braintree from 1640 to the time of the separation of the 
town of Quincy from it, in 1792. It has been taken from the 
House Journal and is more correct tlian the town record^ as for 
many years the records make no account of them : — 

1640, Oct. 7th, Wm. Cheesbro and Stephen Kingsley. 1641, 
June 2d, Stephen Kingsley and Samuel Bass. Oct. 7th, Stephen 
Kingsley and Alexander Winchester. 1642, May 8th, Alexander 
Winchester and William Cheesbro. Sept. 8th, William Cheesbro 
and Samuel Bass, 1643, May 10th, Samuel Bass and Stephen 
Kingsley. 1644, March 7th, Samuel Bass and Peter Brackett. 
May 29th, Stephen Kingsley and Thomas Meekins, 1645, May 
14th, Peter Brackett and Samuel Bass. 1646, May 6th, Peter 
Brackett. 1647 and '48, May lOth, Stephen Kingsley. 1649, 
May 2d, Capt. Wm. Ting and Samuel Bass. 

1650 and '51, Capt. Wm. Ting and Stephen Kingsley. 1652, 
Stephen Kingsley and Samuel Bass. 1658, Stephen Kingsley 
and Peter Brackett. 1654, Samuel Bass. 1655, Capt, Richard 
Brackett. 1656, Peter Brackett. 1657, Samuel Bass. 1658, 
Peter Brackett. 1659, Samuel Bass. 

1660, '61 and '62, Peter Brackett. 1663 and '64, Samuel l^ass. 
1665, Capt. Rich. Brackett. 1666, Ensign Moses Paine. 1667, 
Caj^t. Richard Brackett. 1668, Ensign Moses Paine. 1669, 
Thomas Faxon. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 563 

1670, Lieut. Edmund Quincy. 1671 and '72, Capt. Richard 
Brackett. 1673, Lieut. lidmund Quincy. 1674, Capt. Richard 
Brnckett. 1675, Lieut. Edmund Quincy. 1676, '77, '78 and '79, 
Samuel Tompson, before AYood. 

1680, Samuel Tompson, (special session) ; Richard Brackett, 
(regular session). 1681, Lieut. Edmund Quincy. 1682, '83, '84, 
'85 and '86, Samuel Tompson. 1687 and '88, (no session).^ 
1689, Samuel Tompson, Christopher Webl) and Joseph Crosby. 

1690 and '91, Samuel Tompson. 1692, Ednaund Quincy and 
Alexander Marsh. 1693, John Baxter, Sen. 1694, Caleb Hu- 
bord. 1695, William RaAvson. 1696, Nathaniel Wales. 1697, 
John Ruggles. 1698, Dr. John Wilson. 1699, John Baxter. 

1700, Capt. James Brackett. 1701, Lieut. John Baxter. 1702, 
William Veazie and John Baxter. 1703, '04 and '05, Lieut. John 
Baxter. 1706, John Baxter. 1707 and '08, John Webb. 1709, 
Capt. John Mills. 

1710, Capt. John Mills. 1711, Nathan Hubbard. 1712, Capt. 

1. The reason why the General Court was not held in the years of 1(187-88 
was, that it had heen abolished by the tyrannical Sir Edniond Andros who had 
been appointed Governor of the New Enpland Provinces by King James. He 
constituted himself aiid Councils the governing powers. Governor Androa 
interfered with the freedom of the press, levied enormous taxes without proper 
authority. The most arbitrary and outrageous act was the disturbing the land 
titles from which he and his friends derived a large income. " Many of the 
towns liad common lands, used by the inhabitants for the pasturage of cattle. 
Often these lands, situated near settlements were of great value. By the Gov- 
ernor's orders, portions of these common lands of Lynn, Cambridge and other 
towns, were enclosed, and given to some of bis friends." Finally the people 
became so exasperated at these tyrannical actions, that they rose in open revolt, 
and came rushing into Boston armed, and in great rage, which made the loyal 
citizens fearful of the result, as " nothing would satisfy them but that the Gov- 
ernor should be bound in chains or cords, and put in a more secure place, and 
that they would see done before they went away. To satisfy thena, he was 
guarded to the fort." Graham, Palmer, West and others of his friends were 
securely placed in the Castle in the custody of Fairweather. Randolph was in- 
carcerated in the jail, under charge of the new keeper, " Scates, the bricklayer;"' 
his other satraps were securely imprisoned in other places. With all the watch- 
fulness of the guard, Andros came near effecting his escape. " Disguised in 
women's clothes he had safely pas.sed two sentries, but was stopped by a third, 
who observed his shoes wliicli he had iieglectetl to change." Andros was soon 
.sent home to England, and the inhabitants of the I'rovinco assume<l their former 
peaceful forms of (lovernmeut. Thus successfully ended the first Revolution 
of the Provinces against the Homo (Jovcrnment. 



564 MISCELLANEOUS. 

John Mills. 1713 and '14, Col. Edmund Quincy. 1715, Deacon 
Joseph Allin. 1716, Capt. John Mills. 1717, Maj. John Quincy. 
1718, Capt. John Mills. 1719, Maj. John Quincy. 

1720, Maj. John Quincy. 1721, Capt. John Mills and Maj. 
John Quincy. 1722 to 1741, John Quincy, Esq. Mr. John 
Quincy was also chosen Speaker of the House from 1729 to 
1741. 

1741, Capt. William Hunt. 1742 and '43, Jos. Gouch. 1744 
and '45, John Quincy. 1746, Maj. William Hunt. 1747, May 
18th, John Quincy ; June 5th, Maj. William Hunt. 1748 and 
'49, Maj. William Hunt. 

1750 and '51, Joseph Crosby. 1752, John Ruggles (Samuel 
Niles, Jr., Avas first chosen, but declined to take the oath of 
office). 1753, John Ruggles. 1754, Josiah Quincy and Samuel 
Niles. 1755, '56 and '57, John Quincy. 1758 and '59, Samuel 
Niles. 

1760 to 1775, Ebenezer Thayer, Jr. Oct. 7th, 1774, the Pro- 
A'incial Congress was held at Concord, and adjourned the same 
day to Salem, to be held Oct. 11th; adjourned Oct. 14th, and 
convened at Cambridge Oct. 17th ; adjourned Oct. 29th, con- 
vened at Cambridge Nov. 23d, and dissolved Dec. 10th. To this 
Congress, Braintree sent the following delegates : — Dea. Joseph 
Palmer, Col. Ebenezer Thayer and John Adams (added in No- 
vember). P'eb. 1st, 1775, the Provincial Congress convened at 
Cambridge, and adjourned Thursday, Feb. 16th ; convened at 
Concord Tuesday, March 22d, and adjourned Saturday, April 
15th; convened at Concord April 21st, and adjourned to Water- 
town ; convened at Watertown Saturday, April 22d, and dis- 
solved May 22d. Provincial Congress, — Dea. Joseph Palmer, 
Jan. 23d; Joseph Palmer, Esq., March 6th. County Conven- 
tion for the year, — Col. Joseph Palmer, May 28th. He also 
acted as President of this Convention. General Court at Water- 
town, — Gen. Joseph Palmer, July 10th ; Ebenezer Thayer, Esq. 
(added Aug. 8th). 1776, General Court at WatertoAvn, — Gen. 
Joseph Palmer, Col. Ebenezer Thayer and Col. Jonathan Bass. 
1777, Samuel Niles, Esq. 1778, Samuel Niles, Esq., and Richard 
Cranch, Esq. 1779, Richard Cranch. 

1780, '81 and '82, Richard Cranch. 1783, '84, '85 and '86, Col. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 5G5 

Ebenezer Thayer, Jr. 1787, Col. Ebenezer Thayer, Jr., in ]\I:iy ; 
Richard Craiich and Anthony "Wibird, in December. 1788, '89 
and '90, Col. Ebenezer Thayer, Jr. 

1791, Samuel Bass. The interest of this election was all cen- 
tered on the division of the town. Mr. Bass received one hun- 
dred and forty-two votes on a total vote of two hundred and 
seventy-one ; from which we w^ould infer that the separation of 
the town was closely contested. 

For one hundred and fifty-one years only one clergyman Avas 
chosen as Representative to the General Court, and that was the 
Rev. Anthony Wibird. 

We have given in a note the inventories^ of two of the most 
Avealthy and opulent farmers of old Braintree at the early period 
of 1697-8, for the purpose of showing the price of land, cattle 
and agricultural productions. A curious inference may be drawn 
from these instruments, which is, that hay which to the farmer 
of this day is an item of considerable financial income, was not 
at that period generally estimated of any value, l^erhaps the 
most forcible expression on this point is to be found in the 
Avorks of an old French wiater, Avho states that the term grass 
is another name for beef, mutton, bread and clothing, and in the 
Belgian proverb, — "No grass, no cattle; no cattle, no manure; 
no manure, no crops." Still we have found in two, out of many 
of these estimated accounts of deceased persons, hay mentioned. 

1. Inventory of the estate, goods and chattels of Lieut. Col. Edmund Quiucy, 
of Braintree, deceased, taken March loth, 1(597-8, by the subscribers:— 

To wearing apparel, 

To his armour and furniture of his horse. 

To plate, 

To Feather bed, bedstead, and furniture in the chamber. 

To 1 Pr. of silk curtains, £2, 10s. To 13 Pr. of sheets, £13, 10s, 

To 5 Table Cloths, 4 Doz. and a half of Napkins, 

To o Sheets, £3, 10s. 2 Carpets, £1, 

To G Pr. of Pillow-beers, 1 cupboard, clothes and other worn 

Linen, 
To 8 chairs, 5 cushions, 5 covers for chairs, 
To ') stools, 4 trunks and covers for 2 stools, 3 chairs and a (host 

of draws. 
To 2 liooking glasses and a glass case, 
To 2 old chests, a still and other Lumber, 



£ 


s. 


D. 


22 


10 





12 


4 





44 








10 








k; 








7 


i) 





4 


10 





2 








S 


.") 





7 











l.-> 





2 


10 






\ 



/ 

566 MISCELLANEOUS. 

But they were small farmers, viz: — Barnabas Derrifield and Mr. 
Thomas Faxon, who died about 1680. In their inventories, hay 
and corn are enumerated as being in their barns. 

How did our ancestor live? We answer, in the plainest and 
most simple and economical manner. When they arrived in this 



To 1 Feather bed, bedstead and fiu-niture, 

To 2 Square Tables and 13 chairs, 

To Pewter vessel.s, 

To Brass Kettle and other Brass ware, 

To ;{ I'r. andirons, 

To Limbeck, glasses and other ware, 

To Books, 

To one bed, and Trundle bed, with furniture for both, 

To one carpet, 

To 1 Table and Looking glass, (i chairs, 

To 1 bedstead and other Lumber, 

To Pork and beef, barrels, tubs and Lumber in the cellar, 

To 1 small table, kneeding trough and other Lumber, 

To 4 Iron pots, 2 Iron Kettles, tramel, si)its, dripping [tans, and 

frying pans, 
To 1 negro man and women and 3 boys. 

To a cart, and wheels, plows and other utensils for husbandry, 
To 1 stone mortar, 

To 70 sheep, £24. 8 cows, £24. 4 steers, 3 heifers, £l!), 10s, 
To (5 yearlings, £7. 2 calves £4. 
To 3 horses, £15. 2 sows and six pigs, 
To housing, out housing and Farm that he lived on, 
To the Farm called Moors Farm and housing upon it. 
To 40 acres of Land lying near Major Hunt's saw mill, 
To 30 acres of Land adjoining unto Moor's Farm, 
To Barley and Indian Corn, 
Due to the Estate. 

2073 12 
^ SAMUEL PENNIMAN, 
NATHANIEL WALES. 



£ 


H. 


D. 


10 








4 


5 





10 








3 








') 








'_j 








10 








5 








1 


10 





1 


8 





5 








4 








1 








C 








1(10 








11 











10 





(•.7 


10 





11 








1() 


10 





1400 








2(,0 








20 








15 








10 








20 









Estate of Lieut. Alexander Marsh, of Braintree, who deceased the 7th of 
March l(Ji)7-8, as it was taken and apprized by the subscribers, as follows: — 

£ s. u. 
' ' To Wearing api)arel, 12 10 

To Musquet and 3 swords, 1 10 

To 2 Tables, 2 cliairs, 2 stools, 1 chest, 1 5 

To a Pair of Stillyards, 10 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



567 



inhospitable land they found it a barren wilderness ; the fields 
or open spaces were not covered with the green carj)et of verd- 
ure, as at present. No grass was to be found suitable to nourish 
their cattle, excepting salt grass; This barrenness obliged them 
to wait until they could send home to England and procure 



To 1 bed and fiiruiture, £.5 10s. To 2 coverlids & 7 Blanketts, 

£5 10s, 
To 1 chest, 2 boxes, 11 jd of blanketting. 
To 1 bed and other small things in garret. 
To Pewter and Earthen ware, 

To IJrass and Iron pots, kettle and other Iron ware. 
To 1 Table, (! chairs and other small things, 
To Books, Saddle and bridle. 
To Flock bed, a bolster, a pillow and blanket, 
To 1 chain, 2 hoes and old Iron, 

To Warming pan, 1 hatchet 15s. To Cyder Casks and tubbs, 30s. 
To 1 cart and wheels, yokes and chaines, 3 ploughs, grind stone. 
To 4 oxen, 4 steers of 3 years old. 
To 8 cows and 2 heifers, 2 years old, 
To 3 yearling calves £4. 7 horsekind £12, 
To 50 sheep, £20. 13 swine £(J, 
To Several parcells of Land in Salters Farm, 
To G acres of Salt meadow at Rock Island, 
To 4 acres of Salt meadow in Salters Farm, 
To i of an acre of fresh meadow in Salters Farm, 
To Land in Stony field & the piece where his house stands now. 
To Derrifield Lott, 

To the Furnace Land at Cranes plain, containing 215 acres, 
To a house and Laud at Boston, 
To 50 acres of Swamp near JNIoors Farm, 
To 80 liushell of oats, 18d per Bushell, 
To 150 Bushells of Barley, 
To Indian Corn by estimation 100 Bushells, 
To Debts due the Estate, 
To cash now in house, 
To 2 Scyths, 3 axes, a beetle and wedges, 
To corne liouso and stable, 
Togo lb of yarn, 

To an Indian man's time 2 years. 
To an Indian boy's time 2 years. 



£ S. D. 



9 








1 


19 





1 


10 





4 


10 





5 








1 








1 











10 





1 


4 





2 


5 





4 


10 





24 








29 








10 








2() 








54 








50 








40 








5 








45 








24 








4:30 








200 








40 

















2(j 


5 





15 








159 


7 





27 


7 








18 





n 








5 








3 








5 









l'J90 



March 31, 1798. 



V JOSEPH PENNIMAN, 
NATHANIEL WALKS, 
BENJAMIN SAVELL. 



568 MISCELLANEOUS. 

grass seed to sow the land with. This condition of matters 
made salt meadows for the time being, quite valuable, as one 
acre of salt meadow was worth two of upland, and upon this 
basis the division of land was made. 

The dwellings of the earlier settlers were constructed of logs 
and called block or log houses. The better class of them had 
their chinks filled up with mud to protect them from the cold, 
chilly blasts of winter. A chimney was erected from the centre 
of the building, through the roof. The enclosed top of the 
structure was thatched, and so important did the Colonists con- 
sider the preservation of this material for the ])rotection of these 
log houses from the inclemency of the weather, that every town 
was ordered to construct a house in which to secure the long, 
beach grass for this purpose.^ In these rudely-constructed log 
cabins some of the first town meetings were held, by a few 
neighbors assembling together for the transaction of town busi- 
ness. They were a sort of travelling institutions, — sometimes 
being held at Mr. Saunder's and at other times at Col. Quincy's, 
Mr. Brackett's, etc., or in neighborhoods where the principal 
business of that meeting was to be acted upon. 

Their culinary utensils were few and simple ; j^ewter dishes 
and plates, and a limited number of pots and kettles, were all 
they had. No knives or forks, — fingers and napkins were the 
popular etiquette of the table in the management of their hum- 
ble repasts. Knives and forks were not much known in Eng- 
land before 1650, and did not come into common use in the 
Colonies until a much later period, as we are not able to find 
them enumerated in the earlier inventories of estates of the first 
settlers of the town. The morning and evening meals, for over 

2. " The inhabitants of a towne within this jurisdiction, at their first setting 
down, did gennerally agree to sett apart a certaine parcell of land to the value 
of about 20 acres, lying betwixt tlie salt marsh and the lowe water mark, for the 
use of the whole town, to be iniprooved ffor thatching bowses, the want whereof 
is very prejudicial to the towne, since which time this honnored Generall Court, 
by an order of theirs, have made all lands to low water marks to belong to the 
proprietors of the laud adjoyning thereunto. The aforesaid inhabitants, not 
being able to resolve themselves, humbly desire the resolutions of the honnored 
Generall Courte, "Whether the order of Court make voyd the proceediug towne 
order."— Mass. Records, Vol. Ill, p. 181. 



MISORIJ-AXEOUS. 5G9 

a century, were liasty i>u(l(lin<;, milk iiiul lioniiiiy, brotli or por- 
ridge, as it was called, Havered by salt poi-k being boiled in it. 
]\Ieat was rarely used, as their oxen were preserved for draught, 
cows for their milk and butter, and sheep for their wool to 
clothe themselves ; also, to make their Hock beds. Tliose who 
could spare time from their farm labor could procure wild fowl 
and fish near the shores, aiid a few wild turkeys by hunting them 
in the woods.' Their substitute for tea and coffee, was home 
made beer. The malt for making tlieir beer was j)rocured at 
Mr. Joseph Adams' malt liousc, or at Mr. ]?ass'. After their 
orchards of apple trees were established, the social mug of old 
cider became a favorite beverage. Why tea and coffee were so 
long deferred from coming into the Pi'ovinces, we are not able to 
state, unless it was the high prices asked for these articles of 
luxury. Tea was very rarely used in England before 1G57, and 
was sold from six to ten pounds per pound. Pepys, the noted 
connoisseur and great lover of good cheer, does not record his 
first cup of tea until Sept. 25th, IGGO. Coft'ee was not brought 
into England until 1G41. The first coffee house was oi)ened by 
a -Tew in Oxford, in 1G50. A Greek opened the first house of 
this nature in London, on Lombard street, in 1G52. It was about 
a century after this period, before tea began to be commonly used 
in the Provinces, and it was over a century before coffee was 
familiarly known, or in common use by our ancestors. 

Subsequently, baked beans, the New Englander's favorite dish 
for Sunday meals came into use, and on Saturdays, minced cod- 
fish and potatoes, and rye and Lulian bread, was the fashioualde 
meal, not on Friday, as that would be popish, and whoever used 
it on that day would be eternally damned, and all the jirayers 
of Cotton Mather and his saintly elders could not have saved 
him from ])erdition. 

The observance of Christmas by our ancestors was considered 
a crime, and the penalty for keei)ing it, was the same as tl»e 
])('nalty for j)laying at dice or cards, and the now jiopiilar amuse- 
ment of dancing was frowned upon as tending to licentiousness 
and immoral conduct. 

Tiie (ieiicral Court, always desiring to have a fatherly car*' 
over her subjects, concluded that a few sum])tuary laws were 

73 



^^^ MISCELLANEOUS. 

required for the welfare of our good fathers and mothers, and 
that there should be no mistake or misunderstanding about the 
matter, they enacted a law to regulate their costume,^ and also 
to regulate their diet, by forbidding the use of cake or buns, 



1. " The Court taking into consideration the greate, superfluous and unnec- 
essary expence occasioned hy reason of some newe and immodest fashion as 
also the ordinary weareing of silver, golde, and silke laces, girdles, hatbands 
&c., hath therefore ordered that noe person, either man or woman, shall here- 
after make or buye any apparell, either woolen silk or lynnen, with any lace ou 
It, silver, golde. silk or thread, under the penalty of forfeiture of such cloathes 

" Also, that noe person, either man or woman, shall make or buy any slashed 
cloathes, other than one slashe in each sleeve, and another in the backe also 
all cutt works, imbroidered or needle worke capps, bands, and rayles arL for- 
bidden hereafter to be made and worne, under the aforesaid penalty, also all 
golde or silver girdles, hattbands, belts, ruflfs. beaver hatts, are prohibited to' be 
bought and worn hereafter, under the aforesaid penalty. 

" Moreover, it is agreed, if any man shall judge the wearing of any the fore- 
named particulars, newe fashions, or longe hair, or anything of the like nature 
to be uncomely or prejudiciall to the common good, and the party offendin- 
reform not the same upon notice given him, that then the nexte Assistant bein° 

informed thereof, shall have power to binde the party soe offending to answer 
It att the nexte Court." 

The tailor was the fashionable dress maker of this period, as the ornamenting 
and trimming of ladies' dresses with gold and silver lace, had to be executed 
under his charge. 

'• Whereas there is much complaint of the excessive wearing of lace and other 
snperrtuities tending to little use or benefit, but to the nourishing of pride and 
exhausting of men's estates. It is ordered, that no taylor, or any other person 
whatsoever shall hereafter sit any lace or points upon any garments, either 
hnneii woollen, or any other wearing clothes whatsoever, and that no person 
hereafter shalbee imployed in making of any manner of lace, but such as they 
shall sell ,0 such persons as shall and will transport the same out of this juris- 
diction, who in such case, shall have liberty to buy the same. And that here- 
after no garment shalbee made with short sleeves, whereby the nakedness of ' 
the arme n.ay bee discovered in the wearing thereof; and such as have garments 
already made with short sleeves shall not hearafter wear the same, unless they 
cover their armes to the wrist with linnen, or otherwise; and that hereafter no 
person whatsoever shall make any garments for woemen, or any of their sex 
with sleeves more than half an ell wide in the widest place thereof, and so pro' 
portionable for bioger or smaller persons." ■ 

The stringenc3^ of these sumptuary laws created a bioil between the Court and 
Church. Ihe elders complained that some of their members had been too 
ununarily dealt with for not observing the statute, and that the Court he 
exceeded its jurisdiction in enforcing its penalty on church members believ 
hat a 11 tie whitewashing was more appropriate for their saintly member t.^ 
the penalty of the law. The Court not to be put down, after paying d^ie e^" 



MISCELLANEOUS. 571 

excepting at burials, marriages or such like occasions; the wear- 
ing of all ornaments, gold, silver, or silk lace Avas forhidden, as 
well as hat hands, ruffs, also enihroidory or needle work, and the 
wearing of long hair was an abomination in the sight of God. 
This enactment was not very acceptable to the dry goods mer- 
chant or the fashionable dress maker of that day. 

ence to the church, answered them by sayinj;, that all persons of whatever 
quality or condition, should and would be punished for the non-observauce of 
the statute. 

" And whereas some have beene grieved that such excesses were presented 
to the Court, which concerned the members of the churche, before the parties 
had been dealt with at hoame, intimating thereby that the churches would, upon 
notice of those abuses in apparell have taken such course as would have 
reformed their members, and so have prevented the trouble of the Court. 

" This Court hath, therefore, thought fitt, (in the great confidence it hath of 
the care and faithfulness of the churches,) to stay all proceedings upon the said 
presentment, in expectation that the officers and members of all the churches, 
haveing now cleare knowledge, both of the said disorder in apparrell, and the 
resolution of the Court to attain a generall reformation, will speedily and 
effectually proceed against all offenders in this kind, and that they will also 
(from observation of our proneness to follow new fashions, and to fall to 
excessive costliness in attire) keepe the more strict watch over all sorts for time 
to come, and this Court doth hearby intimate to all whom it may concerne, (of 
what quality or estate soever they may bee) that all such persons as, after all 
these admonitions and forbearances, shall obstinately persist in their exoesse 
in this kind, shall be looked at as contemners of authority, and regard- 
less of the publicke weale, and must expect to bee proceeded against by the 
strictest course of justice, as their offenses shall deserve." 



DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 



John Adams was born in Braintiee, Oct. 19tli, 1735, in the 
most northei'ly of the two old mansions on Franklin street, 
owned by his fatlier, and now in possession of his descendants, 
and graduated at Harvard College in 1755. On leaving college, 
he taught school in Worcester, wliere he also studied law in the 
office of Col. James Putnam. He began the practice of liis pro- 
fession in Braintree about the year 1758, at the age of twenty- 
three years. The first writ issued by Mr. Adams was on an 
action of trespass for a rescue. This gave him considerable 
uneasiness, as he was apprehensive that it was defective,^ which 
it proved to be, as it Avas abated. He soon after removed 
to Boston, where he became eminent in his profession, and was 
appointed Chief Justice of the Sui)reme Court; he was chosen 
one of the delegates to the first Continental Congress in 1774. 

Mr. Adams was married to Abigail Smith, daughter of the 
Kev. William 8mitli, of Weymouth. ]5y this marriage he be- 
came allied to a numerous and highly-respectable family con- 
nection, which greatly assisted him" in his professional business. 

1. "Monday, Dec. 18, 1758. I this evening delivered to Mr. Field a declara- 
tion in trespass for a rescue. I was obliged to finish it without sufficient exam- 
ination. If it should escape an abatement, it is quite undigested and unclerk- 
Hke. I am ashamed of it, and concerned for it. If my first writ should be 
abated, if I should throw a large bill of costs ou my first client, my character 
and business will suffer greatly; it will be said I do not understand ray business. 
No one will trust his interest in my hands. I never saw a writ on tliat law of 
the province. I was perplexed, and am very anxioiis about it. Now I feel the 
disadvantages of Putnam's insociabiiity and neglect of me. Had he given me, 
now and then, a few hints concerning practice, I should be able to judge better 
at this hour than I can now. I have reason to complain of him, but it is my 
destiny to dig trea.sures with my own fingers; nobody will lend me or sell me 
a pickaxe. How this first undertaking will terminate, I know not. I hope the 
dispute will be settled between them, or submitted, and .so my writ never come 
to an examination; but, if it should, I must take the consequences; I nmst 
assume a resolution to bear without fretting." 



DIRTINGl'ISIIKD INmVIDU AI.S. 



573 



In 1778, Congress selected him as one of the Commissioners 
to France; Feb. 13th, he sailed in the frigate IJoston, whh his 
son John Q. Adams, then ten years of age, and arrived at Bor- 
deaux, France, April 8th. Owing to some misdemeanors of Mr. 
Silas Dean, the commissioners were i)laceri in an embarrassed 
position; so much so, that Mr. Adams concluded to take no 
part with them, and returned home after an absence of seven- 
teen months. 

On his arrival home he was selected by the town of Braintree 
as delegate to attend a convention for the formation of a State 
Government, Avhere he took an active and important i)art; but 
he Avas soon called away from the convention to attend to the 
duty of a commissioner to negotiate a treaty of peace with Great 
Britain, and for some years he was the American Ambassador to 
the Court of St. James. 

Mr. Adams was chosen Vice-President of the United States 
in 1789, and at the expiration of Washington's term of otHce, as 
President of the United States, Mr. Adams was chosen to suc- 
ceed him in this high and important position. After his term of 
ottice expired he retired to his residence in Quincy. In 1820, he 
was selected by the citizens of his native town, as a delegate to 
the State Convention that assembled to amend the State Con- 
stitution. The remaining portion of his long life was spent in 
literary labors, and holding correspondence with the most emi- 
nent statesmen of that period. lie, with his co-patriot, Thomas 
Jefferson, expired on their country's birthday, the 4th of July, 
1826. Mr. Adams' age at "the time of his death was ninety-one 
years. 

Jedidiah Adams was born in Braintree, Jan. 21st, 1711, and 
graduated at Harvard College in 1733. On graduating he stud- 
ied theology, and after preaching as a candidate, he iinally set- 
tled in Stoughton, Feb. 19th, 1746, and the same year married- 
Mary Marsh, of r>raintree. He was the seventh son of Caj-t. 
Peter Adams, and died in 1799, aged about eighty-nine. 

John (Juincy Adams was born in tlu' North Precinct of P.rain- 
tree, July 11th, 1767, in the most southerly of tlu- two old 



574 DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUAI S. 

mansions now Ptanding on Franklin street. lie was named for 
John Quincy, the person from whom the to\vTi of Quincy derived 
its name after its separation from Braintree. 

In March, 1786, Mr. Adams entered the junior cLiss of Har- 
vard College and graduated in 1787; he received the high com- 
pliment of having his graduation oration published. Mr. Adams 
after leaving college, began his law studies at Newburyport, in 
the office of the late Chief Justice, Theophilus Parsons, where 
he remained three years. On leaving Newburyport, he opened 
an office in Boston, where he obtained a successful business and 
a high rank in the profession. He remained in Boston until 
higher and more important duties called him into the field of 
diplomacy, for Avhich his previous education had so well fitted 
him. In 1794, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed 
his nomination as Minister to the Netherlands, for which place 
he embarked in September, the same year, and took up his resi- 
dence at Hague. In 1796, he received, while there, an appoint- 
ment from the Secretary of State, as Minister Plenipotentiary 
to the Court of Portugal, with instructions not to leave Hague 
until further orders ; he did not receive these instructions until 
his successor, Mr. Murray, arrived, when he left for England. On 
his arrival at London, he found his appointment to the Court of 
Portugal superceded by another to the Court of Berlin. While 
being delayed in reference to this appointment, Mr. Adams was 
married on the 26th of July, 1797, to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 
daughter of Joshua Johnson, the American Consul at London. 
He went to Berlin, and in July, 1798, received his credentials, 
and resided there until 1801, when he returned home and re- 
sumed his profession of law in Boston. 

The antipathy of the Federal party, which had been brought 
about by Hamilton and his friends, in opposition to Mr. Adams' 
father, appears to have subsided, as they united on Mr. Adams 
and elected him to the State Senate. 

In November he was nominated as a candidate for Represen- 
tative to Congress, but was defeated by Mr. William Eustis, he 
having received fifty-nine votes more. The papers of that day 
attributed his defeat to the cause that it was a rainy day, but 
Mr. Adams supposed it was owing more to the apathy of the 



DISTIXGUISHED IXPIVIDUALS. 



575 



leaders of the Federal party, and made the following remarks on 
the occasion of his non-success. "This is among the thousand 
proofs, how large a portion of Federalism is a mere fair weather 
j)rinciple, too weak to overcome a shower of rain. It shows the 
degree of dependence that can be placed on such friends. As a 
party, their adversaries are more sure and more earnest." 

In 1803, Mr. Adams, after three ballotings, was chosen to the 
Senate of the United States ; in tlie fall of the same year he 
took up his residence in Washington. 

During his senatorial term, he became obnoxious to the Fed- 
eral party for the course he pursued in supporting many import- 
ant measures of Jefferson's administration in direct opposition to 
his own party. This so incensed the Federal party, that at the 
expiration of his term in 1809, they elected James Lloyd in his 
place. 

In 1805, the corporation of Harvard College chose Mr. Adams 
as Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, which position 
he accepted. In 1809, President Madison appointed him Minister 
Plenipotentiary to St. Petersburg. After his confirmation, the 
Federal party took this opportunity to state through the press, 
that this appointment was a reward for Mr. Adams' apostacy in 
joining the administration party. Mr. Adams ably defended 
himself against this severe animadversion. After having been 
a])pointed one of the commissioners to treat for peace with Great 
Britain, he left St. Petersburg, April 28th, 1814, and proceeded 
to Ghent, where he met the other commissioners and with them 
signed the treaty of peace Dec. 24th, 1814. 

Peace being amicably settled between the two countries, Mr. 
Adams, in 1817, embarked in the packet ship Washington for 
the United States, where he arrived the 7th of August. Soon 
after his arrival he was appointed by President Monroe, Secre- 
tary of the State, and he ably fulfilled the duties of this otHce 
through both terms of Mr. Monroe's administration. 

On the expiration of President Monroe's tenn of ottice, Mr. 
Jolm Quiiicy Adams was chosen by the House of liepresenta- 
tives. President of the ITnited States. After the expiration of 
his term in 1829, he -retired to his home. 

lu 1831, he Avas chosen National Representative, and the 



576 piSTiNrarisiiED indivtdttals. 

greater part of his useful life was spent in the halls of Congress, 
even to the day of his death. On the 21st of February, 1848, he 
entered the Representative Hall as well as usual, and after the 
session had begun its duties, he arose paper in hand to address 
the sjjeaker, and was taken with a shock of paralysis, and fell 
into the arms of an associate member. While falling he uttered 
these, his last words, "This is the last of earth, I am content." 
He was taken to the Speakei'^s ])i'ivate apartments in the Capitol, 
where he remained insensible until the evening of the 23d of 
February, when his noble sjurit departed this earth, at the age of 
eighty years and seven months. 



Charles Adams, fourth child and second son of President 
John Adams, graduated at Harvard College in 1789, and engaged 
in the profession of law in New York, where he died in 1800. 



Thomas Boylston Adams, tifth child and third son of I'resi- 
dent Adams, was born Sept. 15th, 1772, and graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1790. He engaged in the practice of law in 
this town, and was a])pointed Chief Justice of the Southern Cir- 
cuit of the Court of Common Pleas. He died in 1832. 



(xeorge Washington Adams, son of John Q. Adams, graduated 
at Harvard irniversity in 1821. He chose the profession of 
law, and began ])iactice in ]>oston. In 1825, he delivered a 
Fourth of July oration before the citizens of Quincy, which was 
published. He was chosen in 1826, Pepresentative to the State 
Leiiislature from Bostoti. Mr. Adams died in 1829. 



John Adams, second son of John Q. Adams, died Oct. 23d, 
1884. 



Charles Francis Adams, third son of John Q. Adams, was ])orn 
in Boston in 1807, and a large jjart of his youthful education was 
obtained abroad, while his father was Minister to Foreign Courts. 
He graduated at Harvard University in 1825 ; after graduating 
he studied law and Avas admitted to the bar in 1828. 

Mr. Adams represented the city of Boston five years in the 



DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 577 

State Legislature, three years in tlie Senate, and two in the 
House ; lie also was editor of the " Boston Whig." In 1848 he 
was a candidate for Vice President on a ticket with ]\Iartin 
Van Buren. 

In 1858 Mr. Adams was elected to represent tlie third Massa- 
chusetts Congressional District in Congress. In 18G0 he was 
again re-elected. Mr. Adams did not serve out this term, as he 
was api)ointed by President Lincoln, Minister to England, where 
he sustained the high reputation his grandfather and father had 
established as a diplomatist. Mr. Adams remained at the Court 
of St. James until succeeded by Reverdy Johnson, in 18G8. 

Under the treaty with Great Britain signed May 8tl;, 1871, 
which treaty stipulates that a board of arbitrators shall be 
appointed by the respective governments to meet at Geneva, 
Switzerland, to settle the Alabama Claims, Mr. Adams was 
appointed by the United States, to serve on this commission. 

Mr. Adams has been quite extensively engaged in the field of 
literature, having edited the Revolutionary correspondoice of 
his grandfather and grandmother which was published in 1841 ; 
he has had published ten volumes of the works of INIr. John 
Adams, of which he was editor. These were published in 185G. 
He has recently edited and published twelve volumes of fthe 
works of John Q. Adams. In 18G4, Harvard CuUege con- 
ferred the honorary degree of LL. D. upon him. 



Ebenezer Brackett, son of James Brackett, was born May 7th, 
1773, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1789, studied med- 
icine and commenced j^'actice in Quincy. He wrote a poem in 
commemoration of Goffe, Whalley and Dixwell, to which an 
abstract of their history was attached ; this poem and history 
was published in 1793. Dr. Brackett died ]\[ay 9tli, 1794, aged 
twenty-one years. He w^as a young man of great promise. 



Ebenezer Crosby was born in the North Precinct of Braintree, 
and graduated at Harvard College in 1777, and at Yale in 1782. 
He was Professor of Obstetrics in Columbia College, New York. 
Mr, Crosby died in 1788. In tlie earlier period of the Revolu- 

74 



67S DISTmOUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 

tionavy War he was appointed Surgeon to Washington's Guards, 
where he continued till near the close of the war. 



The subject of this sketch, the Hon, Benjamin Vinton French, 
was the eldest son of Moses and Eunice V. French, born in 
Braintree, July 29th, 1791, married Caroline French, his cousin, 
Sept. 22d, 1817. Mrs. French after being united in marriage 
twenty-six years, died Sept. 4th, 1848, aged forty-five. His 
second wife was Harriet Alice Seger, cousin to Dewitt Clinton, 
and daughter of William Seger, a native of London, England, 
and resident of the city of New York. Their marriage occurred 
Oct. 12th, 1848. In early life, or at the age of twenty-one 
years, Mr. French began the business of a grocer in Boston. By 
active diligence, integrity and amiability towards his customers, 
he amassed a fair competency. As early as 1818, agricultural 
pursuits attracted his attention, and at this time he began farm- 
ing in Braintree. His agricultural labors having proved suc- 
cessful, he made by purchase another addition to his farm in 
contemplation of making Braintree his permanent place of resi- 
dence. At the relinquishment of his business in 1886, he came 
to Braintree and there devoted his time exclusively to his farm 
of two hundred acres. At the latter part of his life, he became 
financially embarrassed, but on investigation his estate turned out 
better than was anticipated. 

Mr. French was among the first scientific agriculturists in 
Massachusetts ; he was one of the founders of the Norfolk Agri- 
cultural Society, as well as one of its most active members ; also, 
of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and was among its 
principal contributors. He was for years a member of the Mas- 
sachusetts Board of Agriculture and also one of its founders. 
Through his exertions the School of Agriculture was established 
by Legislative enactment in 1856, which was not organized until 
some years after. He was also a member of the New England 
Historic-Genealogical Society from 1845, and a life member from 
1857. Mr. French always having a taste for the beautiful 
originated the idea of garden cemeteries, and was one of the 
most active in establishing Mount Auburn Cemetery. 

Mr. French was much in public life, having while in Boston 




SouthvoT& 4f Hawes Dr 



; WnCot Sanjth "^c 



■ ^— = 



DISTINGUISHED 1X1)1 VIDUA I,S. 570 

been a Director for tlic TTonsc of Reform and Juvenile Delin- 
quents; Assistant Assessor aiul Overseer of tlie Poor, })esi(1es 
Director of banks and insurance offices. In 1S48, Mr. Frencli 
was chosen a member of the Executive Council. 

Mr. French from his larije and well selected library of stand- 
ard works on agriculture became well versed in tlie theory of 
farming, so much so, that the elder Quincy, now deceased, him- 
self a veteran farmer, once related " that in varied husbandry 
Mr. French had no competitor; liis great love of nature and her 
])roductions was the all absorl)ing theme of his useful life, 
especially in the department of ])omology, to which he had given 
especial attention. "In IHf)!, Mr. French exhibited in the Horti- 
cultural Rooms in Boston, two hundred and thii'ty choice speci- 
mens of as many different varieties of the apple and the pear 
for which he received a splendid piece of plate." Subsequently 
he increased his varieties to four hundred, and one hundred 
varieties of the cherry and the plum, besides?" a great variety of 
other fruits, Avhich could be cultivated in this climate. In his 
nursery were to be found nil the native as well ns rare exotic 
flowers and shrubs. 

Mr. French died Avithout issue at Harrison Square, in the 
Dorchester District of ]5oston, April 11th, 1800, aged G8. He 
was eminently distinguished among his fellow associates in the 
Horticultural and Agricultural profession. 



Mr. Thomas Greenleaf was born in Boston, the 15th of May, 
1767, he received the greater part of his early education in the 
Boston Latin School. During the siege of Boston his ])arents 
removed from the city and while they were absent he attended 
the Dummer Academy. On their return to Boston he again 
entered the Latin School, Avherc he prepared for college, Mr. 
Greenleaf graduated at Harvard University in 17S4, at the age 
of seventeen. He did not pursue professional studies. 

From 1790, he resided a part of the year in Quincy, but took 
up his permanent residence here, on the old Ncale estate,^ in 

1. This fine estate on Adams Street, is now in the possession of Mr. William 
W. Greeuougli, and was purchased by Mr. Greenleaf of Dr. Charles Oiaunct-y, 
the noted pastor of the First Church in Boston. 



580 DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 

1803, which he purchased in 1790, and resided there until his 
death. 

His aptitude for public business was such that in the early 
part of the present century, the town intrusted him with various 
and important duties, which he discharged with great fidelity. 
In 1808, he was chosen by the citizens of the town as Repre- 
sentative to the General Court, and for twelve consecutive years 
he filled this honorable office, and at one time was selected as 
temporary Speaker of the House, during the ilhiess of the Hon. 
Timothy Bigelow, who was permanent Speaker. 

In 1820, he was chosen a delegate to a convention to revise 
the Constitution of the State. 

For upward of thirty years Mr. Greenleaf was called ujion to 
preside over the deliberations of our town meetings, and in all 
matters favoring the prosperity of tlie town he took an active 
and responsible part. 

Mr. Greenleaf was married on the 19th day of April, 1787, to 
Mary Deming Price, daughter of Ezekiel Price and Ruth Avery, 
sister of Secretary Avery, all of Boston. They lived together in 
a union of uninterrupted harmony and devoted attachment for 
the long period of nearly sixty-seven years. He died Jan. 5th, 
1854, aged 86 years, 7 months and 21 days. Mrs. Greenleaf died 
Feb. 23d, 1856, aged 88 years, 8 months and 12 days. 



John Hancock, the son of the Rev. John Hancock and Mary 
his wife, was born Jan. 12th, 1736-7, in the North Precinct of 
Braintree. His father was then the pastor of the First Church, 
and resided in a house that was located on a lot where the 
Adams Academy now stands, and always called the " Hancock 
Lot." His father died while he was quite young, and the youth- 
ful Hancock Avas adojDted by his paternal uncle, of Boston, one 
of the most opulent merchants of the Colony. Under his care 
he received his education preparatory to entering college. 

Mr. Hancock graduated at Harvard College in 1754, and at 
Yale in 1769. While in college he held a respectable rank as a 
scholar, but was in no wise distinguished ; he gave little promise 
of the high eminence to which he afterwards achieved. On 
leaving college, he entered the counting-house of his uncle, and 



DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 



581 



in 1760, made a tour to England for the purpose of a personal 
acquaintance with the distinguished merchants with whom his 
house was intimately engaged in business transactions. Shortly 
after his return from England, in 1704, his imcle died, and the 
nephew inherited this large mercantile business, as well as the 
princely fortune of his uncle, then considered the largest estate 
in the Province. This large fortune, together with an upright 
and honest character, gave him great influence and a high posi- 

tion in society. 

In 1766, he was elected to the Provincial Legislature.^ Tliis 
important event seems to have given direction to his future 
career, as he became associated with such patriots and strong 
opponents to the oppressive laws of the Home Government as 
Samuel Adams, Otis and others. 

March 5th, 1774, he was called upon by the citizens of Boston 
to deliver the fourth consecutive address in commemoration of 
the Boston massacre, which was an able and eloquent produc- 
tion .^ When the time came for the great struggle between the 
Home Government and the C olonies, Mr. Hancock was found to 

1 Gordon gives the followin- humorous account of the way in which ISIr. 
Hancock first came to he elected to the House of Representatives:-" When the 
choice of members for Boston, to represent the Town in the next General Court 
was approaching, Mr. John Rowe, a merchant who had been active on the side 
of Liberty in matters of trade, was thought of by some influential persons. 
Mr Samuel Adams artfully nominated a different one, by asking, with his eyes 
lookin<^ to Mr. Hancock's house, ' Is there not another John that may do bet- 
ter-^ • '^The hint took. ^Ir. John Hancock's uncle was dead, and had left h.m 
a very considerable fortune. Mr. Adams judged that the fortune would give 
credit and support to the cause of Liberty ; the popularity would please the pos- 
sessor, and that he might be easily secured by prudent management and might 
make a conspicuous figure in the band of Patriots." 

9 " The Saints professing loyalty and godliness at Boston, send us by every 
vessel from their port, accumulated proofs of their treasoi.s and rebelhons. 
That mighty wise patriot, Mr. John Hancock, from the Old South meeting- 
house, has lately repeated a hash of abusive treasonable stuff, compo.sed for bun 
bv the joint efforts of the Eev. Divine, Samuel Cooper.-that Rose of Sharon 
and by the very honest Samuel Adams. Clerk, Psalui-singer. purloiner and 
curer of bacon. This great and honorable master Hancock is very well known 
in London to many; indeed, unfortunately for them, too well known. Mien 
he was in London about twelve years ago, he was the laughing-stock and the 
contempt of all his ac,uaintancos. 'He kept sneaking about the kitchen of 
his uncle's correspondent; drank tea every day with the housemaid, and on 



582 DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 

have arrayed himself on the side of the Americans. His high 
position and influence was such, that he was chosen a delegate 
to the first Provincial Congress, held at Concorrl, Mnss., and was 
chosen its first president. 

Mr. Hancock was also a member of the Continental Congress, 
held at Philadelphia, and was selected for its second president. 

After the committee appointed had completed the draft of the 
Declaration of Independence, Mr. Hancock, Avith a clear, bold 
and steady hand, without a qniver, Avas the first to sign this in- 
strument declaring the " United Colonies should, and of a .right 
ought to be. Free and Independent States." 

In 1772, Mr. Hancock subscribed towards the erection of the 
second Brattle-street Church, £1000. 

In 1775, Mr. Hancock married Miss Dorothy Quincy, daughter 
of the fourth Edmund Quincy, by whom he had an only son, 
which was named John George Washington Hancock. This son, 
at the early age of five years, was inoculated for the small-pox. 
So great was this event considered that Mr. Quincy thought it 
worthy of a letter.^ This only son met with a sudden and sad 
death while skating on the ice, Jan. 27th, 1787, at the age of 

Sundays escorted her to White Conduit House, &c.' The temper and abilities 
of the rebellious Saints in Boston are easily discoverable in Hancock's oration 
■who, at his delivery of it, was attended by most of His Majesty's Council, the 
majority of the House of Representatives, the Selectmen, Justices of the Peace, 
and the rest of the rebellious herd of Calves, Asses, Knaves and Fools, which 
compose the Faction."— Drake's Antiquities of Boston, p. 720. 

]. "Boston, Sept. 25th, 1783. 

Mr.t. Hancock, Point Shirley : — 

Dear Daughter Hancock: I have only time to give you joy as to your 

Son's courage expressed at ye time of inoculation and to tell you that we've 

great reason to be confident (according to the Common course of Success, which 

the practitioners here and abroad have met with, especially in such young 

patients) that your Son will do well, as hear all without exception have done, 

under ye distemper heretofore inoculated; a very happy remedy which, through 

the Goodness of Divine Providence, the world is favored with. Still more 

happy the world will be if mankind should prove obedientially grateful, instead 

of being careless, under the blessings, conferred upon them. I hope soon to 

hear the Symptoms upon a prospect of eruption are favorable, and witli my 

most devout wishes of a Favorable Issue, I remain. Dear daughter, 

Your Most Affectionate Father, 

Edmund Quincy." 
—Hist. Gen. Reg., Vol. XT, p. (il. 



bisi'mauisHED individuals. 58^ 

nine years. Mrs. Hancock was married at the age of twenty- 
four, and filled her illustrious position with grent dignity, and 
dispensed with queenly grace the hospitalities of her house. 

So obnoxious was Mr. Hancock and Samuel Adams to the 
parent government, that Gnge, while governor of tiie Province, 
issued a proclamation offering a general pardon to all who wo\dd 
proselyte themselves to the royal authority, excepting Hancock 
and Adams. Mr. Hancock held the distinguished position as 
president of the Continental Congress until October, 1777, when 
he was obliged to resign on account of ill-health. 

When the Constitution of Massachusetts was adopted, Mr. 
Hancock was elected its first governor, in 1780, to which office 
he was annually chosen until 1785, when liis health ngain prov- 
ing poor, he was obliged to resign. Subsequently, after a rest 
of two years from the tedious and constant labors of public 
duties, he was again called to the gubernatorial cliair in 1787, 
where he continued to serve until the 8th of October, 1793, 
when he died at the age of fifty-five years. Mrs. Hancock sub- 
sequently married a Mr. Scott. 

Thus lived and died one of the noblest men of the American 
Revolution of 1776, who sacrificed his health, life and property 
to secure the independence of the United States. "Full justice 
was done to his memory, at his death, in the expressions of grief 
and affection which were offered over this patriot's remains by 
multitudes wlio thronged his stone mansion house on Beacon 
street, while his body lay in state, and who followed all that was 
mortal to the grave." 

Gov. Hancock was a strong defender of the doctrine of State 
rights, and considered the State sovereign to the United States; 
which doctrine was exemplified in the reception that was given 
Gen. Washington on his visit to Boston in 1789,^ and also, "in 

1. " It is well kuown that wlieu Washington, 'with a mind oppressed with 
more painful sensations than he had words to express,' accepted the presidency, 
and undertook the more difficult task of guiding in peace the nation wliich lie 
had saved in war, he thouj;ht it a jiroper expression of his resjject to tlie nation 
to take the tour of tlie country. 

" Wherever he came, lio was received with every mark of lionour and regard 
that a grateful and contiding people couKl hestow. 

"Mr. Hancock was willing to show him attention in any way which allowed 



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wiiM Miifu, 'I'liii uMiiil |i(iii|ili) iif IIiiIIimmI liHlluvtiil UN lill ui'MhIm iif lli«lr ni'llMll, 
lliiit uvnry lliirlii wlilrli nlrniilaliiil iim ImiiiIi iiiDiiny liml lln iiiiilitllliiiiiMiHMliiniil In 
Mm IrmiMiiry uf Mm liiiiili, hihiIkiI up Hniiiiinly liy ihiIIim, limmitlv iiml ^niiil |iiilti y. 
'riiU hllml i<iiiilli|niMui WIIH illMnl|iiiliiil III tiiiiuniiliiir, r/tlll, liy a iliiiiliiiiilliiii iif 
Mini liiiiili, IJMil. II. wiiiilil niKliiliii III jiKi' Kuiil nf nil iIii|iiimI|m, niul wmilil mliiiii 
iiiiim III* II, liiM iniiiiiiiil, lliiiii '.V)i)ll lliiiliiH ICvnii MiU wmh piiIiiiiIIIihI In, iiml I'lr 
kIvhii hull hiiir yiiitiH iifliirwiinlH mi Mm liiciiMiiiii uC I'litunii, Mm Mniilt nf 
IIiiIIiiihI wiia iiIiIIhiiiI In iIukIiiiii Mini, ll, liiul iiilvniiiniil In Mm hlnln nC llnlliiinl 
mill NVii»l, I'rliiHlmiil mul Mm IChhI, liiilliHlniii|imiy, iiiniu llimi |0,;)llil,iMMi Itmlnx, 
wIiIkIi Minn ll, wkn nf iinin'Mu nniililti In inuliit ii|t In llm i|ii|iniillni'M, In wliniii, linw 
nviir, ll, iihnIuiiiiiI ||,ii hIiiIiiih iiii Mm hliiln mul <'iiin|iniiy itmili liinimy wliluli 
liml |irii\ tniiMly imrim mi iif^ln nl' I) |ii>i riiiil luiiimillnliily h<ll In III Imlnw nnii'iinl, 
innimy. 'I liU i<|inr|i lumlnnl Mm lull nf mi IiimMIiiMhu wIiIiIi liml iin|nytiil mi 
iinllnillKil uriiilll, mul nl mm lliim iniilinllnil Mm nimmy IiiIhiuhIm nt l'liM'n|iii, no 
Willi iia imiilmliui K><<nl, muvlnii In llm Hhtln 'llm miiniiiil nl linnMiiiy In Mm 
viiullNnr llm tliiiili III \Uh, wan uMllninUnl liy Mr, lln|iiMil, :ia,iHMl,iMlll IIiiI'Iiin," 
Kllii;yilli)limilln llinuiiiilrn, 

71. 



586 DISTINGUTSIIKI) INDIVIDUALS. 

the Russian GovcmnuMit witli 185,000,000, as well as otluM- (V)ii- 
tiuental powers with an ('(lual amount, ('s|iccially Spain, who, 
(luring lior wars, was largely indebted to this banking liouse. 
Mr. Hope erected a splendid villa at a cost of |!200,000, near 
Harlem, the Dutch city of the tuli)* mania, where 4000 llorins 
was offered for one bulb, so great was the mania for this gaudy 
Hower. This villa of Mi". Hope's was sold to Louis llonaparic, 
the father of Napolean IH, who for years resided in it. After 
a long career of financial suc(ress, and having been bancpieted by 
tlie principal crowned heads of Europe, Mr. Hope died Feb. 
25tli, 1811, aged 75. 



Samuel Nightingale was born in liraintree, and graduated at 
Harvard Oollege in 1734. He died in 1780, higldy respected, 
liaving been Judge of one of tlie Courts of IMiode Island, and 
also Lieutenant-Governor of that State. 



Jose])h I'earse I'almer, son of (tcu. Joseph I'alnu'r, was born 
in Hiaintree, and graduated at Harvard College in 1771, :uid 
died 1707. He was one of the i)arty, at the beginning of llic 
Ilevolutionary. struggle, who was engaged in throwing the tea 
overboard in JJoston harboi.' 



Edniun<l (^uincy came from Kngland with tln^ Itcv. .f<ilin 
Cotton, tlyiiig from civil and religious persecution, so vigor- 
ously enforced in the reign of Charles I. He arrived in Bos- 
ton Se])t. 4th, 1().'}3, and was made freennui in 10'>;}-4. TIk; 
town of Jjoston sclcitted him in M;iy, Ki'U, as one of her liist 
llcpresentatives to the first Colonial (General Court, and Ik; was 
appointed one of a connnittee to j)urchase the jKuiinsula of 
Shawmut of Mr. lUaxton. He was among the first to receive a 
grant of land at Mount Wollaston, from IJoston. Soon after 
receiving this grant he died, at the early age of 33 ycMrs.^ 



1. Sots works of Saimiel AilaiiiH, by William V. W'olls, Vol. II, \)]>. 121 U> 
124, wlioro a yrajiliic account is tjiviMi of this Hcvoliitionary iiicifkitit. 

2. IOiIiiuiikI (iiiiiicy of W'igstliorjK!, Nortliaiiiptoiisliin^ iiiarri(Ml Ann I':ilni- 
or, Oct. I-ttli, ].'»!»;'.. 'J'lioii- .son KdnmniJ was ha]Hi/.c<l May ;!()lli, UK)-'. Ho 
married July 14th, H>'2o, Judith I'ures, and Jived on hiu estate at Achurch, 



DISTIKGUISHKI) I VniVinUALS. 587 

Kdiiuiiul Qiiiucy, son of Kdimind (iiiii)cy, was horn in Kn^^- 
lanil ill HVll. Wv iiilicritcd and settled on liis fatlicr's estate at 
Mount "Wollaslon. '^Flie Colonial Governnicnt a|ii»ointed liini 
Magistrate of the County, and lie also received a eoininission as 
Lieutenant of the Suffolk regiment; lie was one of the military 
eommittee for the town of iJraintree. He died in 1G07-S, aged 
about 70 years. Tlu; Court appointed him one oi llic (committee 
to estahlish and verify the charges against Sir Kdmun<l Andros, 
in April, IGSD, and one of tlie Council of Safety foi' the preser- 
vation of tlie peace.^ 



"Edmund (^uiney, the youngest son of Edmund Quiney, was 
born in Braintree, in Oct., 1681, graduated at Harvard Univer- 

near Wigsthorpe. Ho hero was living in 1027, wlicn the following ourions 
oiitry sliowH ho had heconio a Puritan: — "ir»27, Mar. I'ltli, a child of Edmund 
(,)nincy haptizod clsewlK^ro and not in our Parish Church." Tho faulty Htato 
of the Puhlio Itocords in this Country, prevent our tracing tho family to an 
earlier date, hut wo note that the arms of Edmuiul (,)uincy are the same as thoso 
of I)e(^)uincy, Hocond Earl of Winchester. Edmund and Judith (i)uincy, came 
from England with Kev. .John Cotton, and arrived in IJo.ston, .Sept. 4th, IfW.'J. — 
Hist. Gen. Register, Vol. XI, p. 71. 

1 . Miss Eliza Husan (,)uincy, tlui historian of tlic family, relates tho following 
in rcfcronco to tho removal of tho (;oat of arms and inscription on Mr. I'^dmund 
Quincy's tombstone, whodieil in 1(;!)7 H, an<l was hurled in tho old Hancock 
Cemetery : — 

"Tho grave of Ednuind (Quiney, horn in Kngland ]t;27, was marked by a gran- 
ite stone, in which the in.scription or arms wore iusertod, cut on lead, hut in 
llie Revolutionary war the lead was taken to run into bullets. Tho inscription 
would have boon lost, but I'rosident .John Adams recollected tho monument 
before it was robbed of the lead, ami identified it, as that of Edmund (jUiincy. 
A stono slab with his name and ago has recently boon cut and placed between 
the granite head and foot stone. 

"Tho arms of ICdmund (j>uincy cut in stono, were inserted in a table nu)nu- 
ment over the tonil), made about I70(), by .Judge Kdnnmd C,)uincy. These wore 
thought to have been of lead, and broken at the same time the other monuments 
wore robbed, but when tho mistake was discovered they wore left in a fractured 
state. Tiiey were removed and placed together, and the original coat of arms 
copied, and is still ip possession of tho family." 

Tho arms for 150 years after the emigration of lildmund (i)uiucy in KkW, were 
considered asuilicient mark of the ownership without name orcyj)her, and wero 
engraved on a silver (;np bcipufathcd to the First (!hurch of rJriiintree, (now tho 
Unitarian,) by I'Mmund (^hiincy who died in l(i'.)7-S. 

AVheu Mr. rjiint wrote his Centennial sermon, tho giver of the iilato was not 
known, tho arms being forgotten, and uu inscription was added. 



588 



|)IH'l'IN<llirMII|i;i» IN III Vll>l) AI.H. 



nil.y in Hi'.l'J, :miiI ••nl-cicd cnily iiilu |iiililic lire MS l{,<i|»rfH('iir;il.i vc 
<i|' his iialivc Idvvii, :uiil ;ii"l('r\v;i.i'ils ;m iiiciiiIh:|- oI' the I<1 viM-iiti vn 
('oiiiKiil. 11(1 Im'|(| IIk' ciiiiimiHHioii (>r .IikIl^t <iI' tlic, Sii|ii<'iih' 
( 'uilil, (if tlic ('olitiiy I'niin llir ycir I7IH to \\\h (l(i!l,lli. Ilr 
\V!iH ;i)i|M)iiih'i| liy l\\(' (Jciici;il ( 'diiiI, uI" IVf llHHiU'JiiiMcMH tJii'ir 
iil^ciil. ;il, I lie ( 'diiiI, uf ({rciil Hfil-iiiii, to Hdttic n conti ovciHy 
botwcfii tlin \'\<i\\i\ri- of M(iHN)i,(rlniH<!tlH liny mikI that of New 
lljiinpHliin', relative! to tlicir r('H|t<'(tti vmi Itoiimlary lints. In 
I )rccnil»cr, I7)!7, Im <'inl»a,il<c<| I'nf hliiylainl on that inihsion. lid 
ilicil in IjoikIoii, of Hinall |»ox, l<'cl). '^.'t<l, I711M. IJcHiiU'S ii iloiia- 
tion of oint thoiiHainl iicrcH of land to hJH IntirH, in tlit^ town of 
Lenox, in the ('onnty of I ><iKhhire, the ('olony eauheil a, nioini 
liient lo he ert'eted over liiH f.M-aA'e in linnhill l''iel<lH,' i.onilon, at 
their e\)ienHi^" 



John C^iiiiK-y was l»orii in tli<i Moi'tli l*ree,iii<t of liiaintree, in 
|(i:-:;(. After reeeivin^' his |ire|)aratory ednealion, iir entered 
Harvard ( 'ollei-e, from whirh he jMadMaied in I70X; nine years 
after, hi' was eaJleij into |iiil)li<', service, wln'l'e he, was actively 
(Mij.';aj^fd for the jL^reater part id' his life. I le was lirst chosen to 
represent tJie town in tli(! (JeiKiriil (!oiirt in 1717, which JHiiioia- 
l»le position he lilled for tweiityci^ht years, and ont of the 
nmnher oi years that he Ji(dd the, ollice, twenty-two of thoin 
wcH! coiiHCtciitive. P'roin 1 7tilJ to 1711, uhont twelvu yuurw, liu 



1. Tlio followin;', iiirjitii|ii,i()ii \n u. l.nuiMliiUdii of llid l.iil.iii iiim on fJiif (trij^liial 

toillitHl/lllll). 

"Horn M,rn diipoHitciil Llio nMiiii.iiih et tMiniiiiil (.liiiiicy, I';hi(., iiiU.iv<i <»l' Mid 
MiiHMiii'.IiiimittM Uiiy, in Now ICiif^liunl , n, (,'i-,)ii,|(iiiiii,ii ot tllHUiitiiii«li(nl |iii)l.y, 
jiMidniiutt ami luiu/iliifj;. Wlm oiuly iiKtritoil pralHo Cur <llw(!liargliiK, wllli Hki 
^roatoMt a/hillty iukI a.it|in)v«il iiil,<igrity, tint viuiniiH oMi|ilityiiiiuil,M, liotli in civil 
atid tiiiliUry al'f'aii'H, Uiat IiIm country eiii,ni,-il,iiil liim vviLli, Ukinu UH|)<icially, aH 
oiin ol' IiIm MnjcMtv'H < !i)inn'|| a.liiMticc lA' iJiit Hii|ir(tin<i (lonrl, of .1 iicllcaMnn, 
ami Colomd ol a nxiiiKnil. i,\ looL 

" 'I'lm |)iil)ll(! ailiihMot liJM coiniLiy «(> r(!(|iilriiiK, li<i cinlMuliml Uioir aK<"'l' I" 
Mm <!oiMl, of (Jinat IWil.alii, in onlor l.owccuro Mioir riylil.H ami ]irivlli'K"M. 

" Itcing Miii/.cil wiMi Mic Kniall jiox, )i(i died a jtniinal.nio dcaMi, and wiMi Idiii 
tliii a,dvaii(,af4(i« (tx|)i!c,|,iid (Voni IiIm a^oitcy, vviMi Mm f.;nia(,i%il, iuohjkicI, of mucchnm; 
III! dojia,rUid tliii dcli({lil, of Idn own iiiiojilit, lint of none innii: limn iIh' iSiiiMir, 
who, a,M a l,cMl,liiiony of Mmlr l<iv<i a,nd .LMiiMtmln, Inivii onlcod (Iji;; i'|,ilii|ili In Im 
illM(;rilied on liiii inonnini'iil. \\i- died al, l>undon, I'Vli. 'I.'id, I'/.Ti, in llii- !>,l\i 
y(y,iy of liiii aj^o." 



DIRTINGUISIIKI) IN'I)IVII>UAI,S. 589 

WMS Spofiker of llu^ House. This record was taken from tlie 
" House Joiiriiiil," and does iiol aijree with other priiitiMl state- 
ments that lie represented the town for f(jrty consecutive years. 
Mr. (^uincy died in 1767, aged 78. 



"Kdinund Quincy, son of Edmund (iuincy who died in Lon- 
don, was l)orn in ]>raintrec in 1703, and graduated at Harvard 
University in ITII. He was many yeai-s a merchant in IJoston, 
afterward resided on liis paternal estate in IJraintree, was author 
of a treatise on ' llenij) Husbandry,' ]»ul)lished in 170;'), and 
(lied an Acting Magistrate of the Ccjunty of Suffolk, in July, 
17<SS, age.l >^^k" 

Dr. Jacob (Quincy, son of Edmund (^lincy, was boni in Bos- 
ton in 17;}4, and graduated at Harvard (College in 17^):}, and is 
said to liave practiced medicine in the North Precinct of Jirain- 
tre(! nntil he went upon the staff of Col. Joseph Dwight's regi- 
ment as surgeon's mate, on an expedition to Crown I'oint, in 
1750. He died at St. Eustatia, June l.'')th, 1778. 



"Josiah (Quincy, youngest son of Edmund (Quincy who dicl 
in London, was born in JJraintree in 1701>, was graduated at 
Harvard University in 172S, and entered into business as a 
merchant in Boston. In 1737 he accompanied his fatlier to 
P^ngland, passed several years in P2urope at different periods of 
his life, and ilnally returned to America in 1749. He was 
appointed, in 175.5, by Ciov. Shirley, joint commissioner with 
Thonias I'ownali, afterwards Gov. I'ownall, to negotiate with 
the Colonies of Pennsylvania and New York, for assistance in 
erecting a frontier barrier agahist the French at Ticonderoga. 
He retired from business in 1750, and resided in IJraintree on a 
portion of Iiis paternal estate, until his death in 17S-1." 



"Edmund (Quincy, ehh'st sou of Josiah (Quincy, was born in 
Biaintrcic, in Oct., 17:'.:{, graduated at Harvard University in 
1752, entered into business as a merchant in Boston, and visited 
England in 1700 and 170:5. He was a zealous Whig and a 
political writer of th.at perio<l, ami had his life been spared, he 



590 DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 

would probably have taken an active part in the American 
Revolution. His healtli declining under a jndmonary complaint 
he sailed to the West Indies, and died at sea, in March, 1768, 
aged 35." 



"Samuel Quincy, second son of Josiah Quiucy, was graduated 
at Harvard University in 1754, engaged in the study of the law, 
and became eminent in that ])rofession. He wasa])pointed Solic- 
itor-General of the Province, under the Crown, and held that 
office until the Revolution. Influenced by his official duties and 
connections, his political course was opj^osed to that of the other 
members of his family. He was appointed Attorney for the 
Crown in the Island of Antigua, which office he held till his 
death in 1789.1" 

" Josiah Quincy, Jr., the youngest son of Josiah Quincy, was 
born in Boston, Feb. 23d, 1744, and I'cceived his instructions 
])rcparatory to entering the University, in the school of Mr. 
Joseph Marsh in this town. He was graduated at Harvard Uni- 
versity in 1763. He entered upon the study of law with Oxen- 
bridge Thatcher, Esq., of Boston, and was afterwards eminent 
in the practice of it. He took a bold stand, as a writer and an 
actor in the cause of freedom. In the case of Preston, in the 
Boston massacre, he shared an immortal fame with his co-patriot 
John Adams. The labors of his profession wore upon his frame, 
and in February, 1773, he was obliged to leave home, and took a 
voyage to Soutli Carolina. He returned, and in May, 1774, j)ub- 
lished ' His observations on the Boston Port Bill.' On the 20th 
of Sept. 1774, he embarked privately at Salem for England, in 
the cause of his country." 

There he remained until March, 1775, and was returning home 
with his heart and soul devoted to his country. That country 
he was never more permitted to reach ; his health had been 
failing, and on the 26th of April, 1775, without hearing of the 
Battle of Lexington, he died. The inhabitants of Glouces- 
ter paid funeral honors to his remains. He was afterwards 
removed to this place, according to liis wisli, where a monument 

1. See Sabine's Loyalists of the American Revolution, Vol. II, p. 20G. 



DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 591 

was erected to his memory and to tliat of his wife, by liis oidy 
surviving chihl, Josiali Quincy. 

" He had lived for his country, and liis hist prayer was for its 
welfare. His name will be enrolled among those great spirits, 
who led the way in procuring the freedoin of the civilized 
world .^'' 



Josiah Quincy, son of Josiah Qnincy, Jr., was born in Boston, 
Feb. 4th, 1772, and graduated at Harvard University, in 1790. 
He was for eight years a member of Congress from Suffolk; 
also, a member of the State Legislature, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, Judge of the Municipal Court in ]5oston, 
Mayor^ of that city, and President of Harvard University. Mr. 
Quincy died July 1st, 1864, and was buried at Mount Auburn. 
He was an honorable descendant of this old and distinguished 
family of the town of Quincy. 



Col. Sylvanus Thayer, son of Nathaniel and Dorcas Thayer, 
was born in Braintree, June 9th, 1785. His boyhood was spent 
with his maternal uncle, Mr. Azariah Faxon, who at that time 

1. See memoirs of the life of Josiah Quincy, Jr., of Massachusetts Hay, by 
his son Josiali (Quincy. First published in 18'J5, and republished with an addi- 
tional appendix, in 1874, by Eliza Susan (^)uincy, of which three editions have 
been printed, 

2. :Mr. (Quincy was chosen the second Mayor of Boston, which position ho 
held from IHlTi to 1H2S inclusive. While administering the municipal govern- 
ment of Boston, many important improvements were suggested and acted ujion. 
The reorganization of the Fire Department, and the establishment of the House 
of Keform for Juvenile Offenders. Another subject that re(iuired the active 
attention of Mr. Quincy was the establishment of an experimental Girl's High 
School, under the superintendence of !Mr. Ebenezer Bailey. The city not being 
prepared for this innovation upon her established .system of education, in a few 
years abandoned this i)roject. The great and crowning glory of Mr. Quincy'.s 
nninicii)al adnunistration was the establishment of the (i)uincy Market, who wo 
think is wrongfully robbed of the honor that he was rightfully entitled to, by 
ofilicially recognizing it as Faneuil Hall Market, instead of (i)uinoy Market. 
Tliis i)roject was not, however, carried through without great ojjposition, but 
finally, by the indefatigable exertions of Mr. (Quincy, this noble object was ac- 
complished, and this market house lias been and is now the admiration of all 
strangers wlio visit the Trimountain City. Mr. Quincy makes the following 
statement as to the cost of this great aud successful undertaking: — "A granite 



592 DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 

was a resident of Washington, N. II. lie began teacliing school 
at the early age of seventeen. After preparing himself for a 
university education, he entered Dartmouth College, where, hy 
close application and diligence, lie became noted as a scholar, 
especially excelling in mathematics. On graduating, in 1807, 
from college, the honor of delivering the valedictory was con- 
ferred on Mr. Thayer. Even before graduating, he had an 
api)ointment as cadet to the West Point Military School. At 
this early period, so well versed was he in military matters, that 
in the autumn of 1807, he was appointed second lieutenant of 
infantry, and the 2'2d of February, he was commissioned second 
lieutenant of engineers. So rai)id was his advancement in mili- 
tary science, that he received July 1st, 1812, promotion as first 
lieutenant, and Oct. 13th, 1813, was commissioned Chief Engi- 
neer of the Northern Army, which was under the command of 
Major-Gen. Dearborn in the campaign of 1812. The right divi- 
sion of the same army was under the command of jNInjor-dien. 
Hampton, to whom Mr. Tliayer was aid-de-camp in the cam- 
))aign of 1813. He held the same position under Brigadier-Oen. 
Moses Porter, in 1814, who was stationed at Norfolk, Va., in its 
defence. "For distinguished and meritorious services at Nor- 
folk," he received promotion to the rank of major by brevet, 
Feb. 20th, 1815. 

The United States Government having great confidence in 
Maj. Thayer's military judgement, selected him with (!ol. Wm. 
McRee, of North Carolina, in 1815, to take a tour to Europe on 
a military inspection. On arriving in the English Channel, they 

iniulcet house, two stories high, five hundred and thirty-five feet long, fifty feet 
wide, covering twenty- seven thousand feet of land, including every essential 
aoconiuiodation, was erected at a cost of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 
Six new streets were opened, and a seventli greatly enlarged, including one hun- 
dred and sixty-seven thousand sciuarc feet of land ; and fiats, docks and wliarf 
rights obtained of the extent of one Inindred and forty-two thousand scfuaro 
feet. All this was accomplished in the centre of a populous city, not only 
without any tax, debt or burden upon its pecuniary resources, — notwithstand- 
ing, in the course of the operation, funds to the amount of upwards of eleven 
hundred thousand dollars had been employed,— but with large permanent addi- 
tions to its real and productive property." 

For further account of the Hon. .Josiah <^)uincy, see his interesting and well 
written life by his son, Edmund (^iiincy, published in 18G9. 



DISTINGUISHED IXDIVIDUALS. 593 

were informed that the great Battle of Waterloo had been 
fought. They hastened to France, where they found the City 
of Paris occupied by the allied forces. There they were able to- 
improve their military education by witnessing the daily evolu- 
tion of the army who had conquered the great military hero of 
that time. After examining the fortifications of France, and 
attending to military duties, they in 181G, received orders to 
return home. June 28th, 1817, Maj. Thayer was appointed 
Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West 
Point. 

"lie now entered on that distinguished career of admiuistni- 
tion which has made that institution so celebrated as a school of 
military science. Maj. Thayer found the academy weak, imper- 
fectly organized, low in its requisitions and inferior in its advan- 
tages of acquirement. He raised it by his zeal, energy and 
unwearied diligence to a degree of excellence which will bear a 
favorable comparison " with any other school of its nature. In 
1843, Col. Thayer being out of health, under commission of the 
United States Government, embarked on another voyage to 
Europe. On this tour he travelled more extensively through 
Europe, visiting Belgium, Holland, France, Denmark, Sweden, 
Prussia, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Egypt. After being 
absent about three years, he returned home. 

Gen. Thayer was honored with the title of LL. D. by St. John 
College, Md., in 1830; Kenyon College, Ohio, in 184G; by Dart- 
mouth in 1846; by Harvard in 1851. He was also a member of 
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the Amer- 
ican Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, in 1838. The fortitic-a- 
tions of Boston harbor are a test of his engineering skill. 

Gen. Thayer was a great public benefactor to the town of 
Braintree, having bequeathed to it a large sum of money for 
building and establishing a public library, and also an academy^ 
which we have before stated in connection with the endowed 
institutions of the town. 

The declining bachelor life of Gen. Thayer was quietly spent 
in his native town, Avhere he died Sept. 7tli, 1872, aged about 87 
years, and was buried in the old North Cemetery of Braintree. 
In the fall of 1877, at the request of the West Point Cadets, 

76 



604 DISTINOUISIIKr) INIHVTDUAT.H, 

liiH rcrnuiriH wcro iliHinUiricd uiul nnriovcd to WcHt PoiMt, wlioro 
l,li(!y wci-i! l)iiri(!(l witli iiiilitiiry lioiiors noiir (ien. Scott, IiIh lifc- 
\(>u^ l"ri(!iMl. At West Toiiit :i liiK; lifc-Hi/e portrjiit of (Jcii. 
'IMiMycr Miloiiis the vvuIIh of tlii.s notcid inilit.'iry institution. 



Tlio \lvv. I'(!t(u- Wliitn(fy was born .Ian. I'.ltli, 1770, in Nortli- 
l»(»i<)ii;^li, WoiT.OHt(!r (bounty, M;mM. He cntcicil ('imihiiflL't.'i (!ol- 
1(1^(1 in I7H7. Wliilc purHiiiiif^ liiw Ktiidics in tlic UnivcMsity ho 
tini^^Iit Hcliool in tlic vvintci-H, in ( JliarlcHtown ; li(^ tfradiiatcd in 
17!)l. Soon aJ't-cr ^radiiatiM-;' li(! went to I linj^liain, Mass., vvlK^n! 
lid vvnH iippointtid AHsistant Preceptor in tlio Derby Aciideniy, 
.Inly 'i.OtJi, 1701. A|)ril 21st, lHi;{, lie. wa|^ sclcctod ono of its 
tntstct'H, and was president of the hoard for twcnity-foiir years, 
resij^ninj^ his position in IH.'')7. lie had heen approhattMl an<l 
eonmienced preachini^ us (iaily as 17!);{, which was two years 
after he i^raduatcd, and s(^ven y(!ars before liis setlh'nient in 
(^iiincy. Dnrinii,- the siiinrner of 17!)() he preached in Hull. 

The Key. Mr. VVibird, the pastor of tlu^ First ('hurch in 
Ciiiincy, \n'.\i\i<; f(H',ble and out of iiealth, Mr. Whitney was ealhid 
to setlU) ilH c.ollcMijnjuc wltli liiui. Tliis invitation was aec('j)t(Ml, 
and h(* was <»rdained I<\'b. Mli, iSdO. I\lr, Wibird die<| .luiu- Ith, 
the sanu* year. 

'IMie second Sunday after his ordination lie apjteaicd before^ 
his soeiety for tlui first, time as their minister. In ISIM, Mr. 
NVhitn«'y beini; somewhat out of health, Di'. Lunt was called, as 
(Htllcai;u(^ ]»aslor, and was settled as such in .lune, lS;)r); still Mi'. 
Whitney eonlinue(l t-o hav(^ sole eharj^e of the rarisli. The last 
Hcrinon prc^iched by him was in the forenoon of the l!(lli of 
September, IS II. 

Mr. Whitney's death occurre<l very suddenly l^'riday, March 
;{d, IS|:!, at '.) o'clock ill the morniiiL;, when he fell from his chair 
and immediately expired, in tlii' sevi'iity-foiirtJi year of his a<;'e. 

Key. l\'t,er Whitney ri'presented the town in the State Legis- 
lature for the year I S'Jf). 

The followini;- are the public discoursi's of I\fr. Whitney''s that 
have been published : 

A discourse delivered at (,|>uincy, Sept. IDth, 1 SO 1, .at the i-on- 
secralion o( the I Jural Jjodi'i'. 



DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 595 

A sermon delivered Aug. 7tl), 1805, at the ordination of the 
Rev. Perez Lincoln, called to the care of the First Church of 
Christ in (Tloucester. 

A discourse delivered at (Juincy, Oct. lOtli, 1811, at the inter- 
ment of the Hon. Ricliard Cranch, who died Oct. 16th, and of 
Mrs. Mary Cranch, his wife, who died Oct. 17th, 1811. 

A discourse delivered in the morning at Quincy and in the 
afternoon to the third religious society in Hinghajn, on the day 
of the State Fast, July 23d, 1812. 

A sermon delivered on the Lord's day succeeding the inter- 
ment of Madam Abigail Adams, consort of the Hon. John 
Adams, late president of the United States, Nov. 1st, 1818. 

A discourse delivered in Quincy at the interment of John 
Adams, late president of the United States, July 7th, 1826. 

A sermon delivered at Quincy Jan. 1st, 1837. 



Mrs. Mary White was the third child of Col. Thomas Hollis, 
of Braintree, by his wife Lydia Holbrook. She was born on 
"West street, in that town, July 25th, 1776, and married Nathan- 
iel White, of Weymouth, May 7th, 1795, by Avhom she liad six 
children. She died in Braintree, Aug. 12th, 1878, aged one hun- 
dred and two years, five months and sixteen days; her husband 
died Feb. 16th, 1837, aged sixty-five years. 

She lived in Weymouth the first years of her married life, 
where all her children Avere born except the youngest, llutli, 
who is the wife of Hon. George M. Rice, of Worcester. 

Mrs. White was a lineal descendant on lier paternal side from 
John Hollis, one of the earliest settlers of the town of Wey- 
mouth ; on her maternal side from Thomas Holbrook, who came 
to this country from Broadway, Somerset County, England, in 
1635, and settled in Weymouth. Her ancestors bore their fair 
share of the burdens of citizenship in their several generations. 
Some of them were soldiers in King Phillip's War, others in the 
French and Indian Wars, while her father and several of her 
uncles were soldiers in the War of the Revolution. 

She remembered vividly to the last days of her life seeing the 
soldiers on their return from the Revolutionary War at its dose. 
When she was born the last representative of royal authority in 



596 DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS, 

tliis State, Gen. Howe, Avas shut in Boston by Gen. Wasliinoton 
and liis patriot arm^^ A few weeks after lier birtli, lier father 
and many others from the hills in Braiiitree saw, witli glad 
hearts, a long line of ships going down tlie harbor bearing away 
the dreaded red coats, nevermore to return. 

In fact, her life spanned the nation's life — extending from the 
election of President Washington to that of President Hayes — 
and although her lot in life was humble, she always took a lively 
interest in political affairs and had decided opinions on all politi- 
cal questions. 

Mrs. White was always interested in the affairs of the church. 
She joined the Congregational (Orthodox) Church in l>i-aintrce 
in 1814, then under the pastorate of Dr. Storrs, and i-ernained 
through life a faithful member. 

Her last days were cheerful and hopeful, suffering but little 
from the infirmities which often accompany old age. 

The descendants of Mrs. White number six children, twenty- 
six grand-childre)i, thirty-seven great-grand-ehildren, and seven- 
teen sxreat-ureat-^rand-children. 



Dr. Ebenezer Woodward was the son of Ebenezer Woodward 
of Canterbury, Conn., and Delia Adams of Lincoln, Mass. He 
was born in Cambridgeport, March 12th, 1791, while his parents 
were on a visit to that village. At the age of six years, ho 
removed to Hanover, N. IL; here he prepared for and entered 
Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1817. Dr. Wootl- 
ward took up his residence in Concord, Mass., Avherc he com- 
meitced the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Isaac 
Hurd. Subsequently he proceeded to Boston, where he contin- 
ued .his professional studies under his uncle, Dr. Samuel Adams. 
At this period he entered Harvard Medical School, from whence 
he graduated in 1823. After graduating, he commenced the 
]»ractice of medicine in Quincy, April 1st, 1823. Not finding 
busiucss as successful as he anticipated, he in 182(5, sold out his 
practice to Dr. W. B. Duggan, but in about a year he ])urchase(l 
liis business back again, and from that time to his death, he con- 
tinued the leading physician of the town. At the time of his 
death, he gave a large part of the Greenleaf ])r()j)crty that he 



DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 597 

had received by inheritance, to tlie town for the establishment 
of a Female Institute, as has been before related. Dr. Wood- 
ward died, without issue, May 21st, 1809, ac^ed 71. He married 
Mary Ann Wroe, the youngest daughter of Mr. Thomas Green- 
leaf, Nov. 13th, 1837, who died Jan. 23d, 1870, aged 73 years 
and 9 nionths. 



There are a number of memorial sketches interspersed through 
tliis volume, not in regular order. The reason Avhy they are not 
connected is, that the publishers thought there would not be 
room for a chapter of biographical sketches, but subsequently 
decided to 2"»ublish one. Hence the irregularity. 



APPENDIX. 



W:e cannot ^o back further tlian 1837 for the inilustrial statis- 
tics of the ioJu, as this was the first year that they were ordered 
to be taken by the authority of the State. These statistics are 
as correct as the truthfuhiess of those who reported them to the 
census taker will allow ; still with all care in collecting them tliey 
seem far from being exact in their correctness, but are as reliable 
as statistics of this nature generally are. We have given them 
as we have found them in the official documents, and the reader 
must be the judge of their reliability. These business state- 
ments are worthy of consideration in showing the numerous 
changes that have, for the last forty years, taken place in the 
various industries of the town. 

INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS OF QUINCY FOR 1837. 
Boots manufactured, 27,437 pairs: shoes, 18,002 pairs; value of boots and 
shoes manufactured, SlU.HSl; males employed, l(i3; females, 5«. 

Tanneries, 4; hides tanned, 8,3i)0; value of leather tanned and curned, 
,^17 074- hands employed, !(>; capital invested, ^1!),800. 

' Hat manufacturers, l; hats manufactured, 1,000; value of hats, $2,250; hands 
employed— males, 2; females, 1.* 

Salt manufacturers, 2; salt manufactured, 3,135 bushels; value of the san,e, 
$\ 500; hands employed, 2; capital invested, :Sl,()OO.t 

' Vessels built in the five preceding years, 13; tonnage of the same, 2,594; 
value, S122,()50; liands employed, 50. 

Vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishing, 10; tonnage of the same 
734- codfish caught, (i,200 quintels; value of the same, $18,800; mackerel 
cau<>ht, 1,750 barrels: value of the same, «12,242; capital invested, r.'ii.OOO; 
salt used in cod and mackerel fishing, 11,250 bushels; hands employed, 100. 
Syenite quarried. (^4,590 tons; value of the same, §248,737; hands employed. 

533. • 

. The Hat Manufactory of Mr. John Hall Wius located on Adan.s street, where the 
old " Cherry Tavern" formerly stood. 

t m the early part of the present century Mr. Josiah Qulncy carried on salt worlcH 
in North Quincy. near the «latc .luarries. In 1824, Mr. Luch.s Manlius Saru.-nt 
.slaLHshea salt works on his estate at Quincy Point, which estate is now in possession of 
llie heirs of the late 11. Farnuin Smith, Esq. 



600 APPENDIX. 

Slate qnarried, ],200 tons; value of the same. $2,500; hands employed, 5. 

Value of coach lace manufactured, $12,000; hands employed— males, 7; fe- 
males, 1G. 

Beeswax bleached, 47,000 pounds; value of the same, $17,000; hands em- 
ployed, 4.* 

Value of Coach, Chaise, Harness and Wheelwright business, $32,050; hands 
employed, 36. 

INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS FOR 1845. 

Saddle, harness and trunk manufacturers, 3; value of articles, $8,500; capi- 
tal, s$3,500; hands employed, 12. 

Establishments for the manufacture of coaches, chaises and other vehicles, 3; 
value of vehicles manufactured, $4,700; capital, $2,200; hands employed, 12. 

Salt manufacturers, 1; salt manufactured, 1850 bushels; value of the same, 
$426; capital invested, $1,000; hands employed, 1. 

Chair and cabinet manufacturers, 1; value of articles manufactured, $2,500; 
capital, $1,000; hands employed, 2. 

Tin ware manufacturers, 1; value of ware, $1,500; capital, $1,000; hands 
employed, 1. 

Tanneries, 7; hides tanned, 18,160; value of leather tanned and curried, 
$67,125; capital, $12,000; hands employed, 26. 

Boots manufactured, 41,876 pairs; shoes, 15,605 pairs; value of boots and 
shoes manufactured, $133,273; males employed, 203; females, 98. 

Value of building stone quarried and prepared for building, $324,500; hands 
employed, 526. 

Value of slate quarried and prepared, $2,000; hands employed, 6. 

Value of blacking manufactured, $1,000; hands employed, 2. 

Firewood prepared, 979 cords; value, $5,106; hands employed, 15. 

Vessels launched, 2; tonnage, 60^ value, $2,100; hands employed, 3. 

Vessels employed in the whale fishery, 1 ; tonnage, 94. 

Vessels employed in the mackerel and cod fishery, 4; tonnage, 118; mackerel 
taken, 1,000 barrels; value, $5,500; codfish caught, 500 quintals; value, $2,125; 
salt consumed, 400 bushels; hands employed, 22; capital, $3,050. 

Sheep, 310; value, $565. Horses, 397; value, $27,155. Neat cattle, 723; 
value, $17,318. Swine, 660; value, $7,920. 

Indian corn or maize raised, 3,360 bushels; value, $2,016. Rye, 469 bushels; 
value, $375. Barley, 360 bushels; value, $284. Potatoes, 9,673 bushels; value, 
$2,418. Other esculent vegetables, 2,364 bushels; value, $456. Hay, 1,565 
tons; value, $21,539. Fruit, 4,579 bushels; value, $2,290. 

Beeswax bleached, 30,000 pounds; value, $15,000; hands employed, 2. 

INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS FOR 1855. 
Harness manufacturers, 2; business principally repairing. 
Vessels built during the year, 1; tonnage, 1,500; capital invested, $30,000; 
hands employed, 50. 

* This business was established by Mr. "William G. Appletou, about 1836, on the 
estate now owned by Mr. J. R. Graham on Washington street. From here Mr. Apple- 
ton moved his bleachery to his estate on Adams street, now owned by Mr. Edward H. 
Dewson, where he continued the business until his removal from town in 1850. 



APPENDIX. 601 

Establishments for buikliug boats, 1; boats built, 20; capital invested, S-50; 
hands employed, 2. 

Establishments for the manufacture of wagons, sleighs and other vehicles, 2; 
value of wagons, &c., 87,500; capital invested, $2,000; hands employed, 7. 

Chair and cabinet manufacturers, 2; value of articles manufactured, Sil,000; 
capital, 82,500; hands employed, (i. 

Tin ware, sheet iron and stove manufacturers, 2; value of goods, 814,500; 
capital, 83,500; hands employed, 4. 

Tanneries, 2; value of leather tanned, 810,000; capital, 84,000; hands em- 
ployed, 4. 

Currying establishments, 5; value of leather curried, $45,000; capital, 812,000; 
hands employed, 18. 

Manufacturers of patent and enamelled leather, 1; value of leather manufac- 
tured, 810,000; capital, 82,000; hands employed, G. 

Boots of all kinds manufactured, 79,925 pairs; shoes, 6,000 pairs; value of 
boots and shoes, 8309,500; males employed, 425; females, 146.* 

* Previous to the present century, or shortly after the close of the Revolutionary 
war, Mr. John Pray began manufacturing shoes, in a building on the easterly side of 
Hancock street, near its junction with Adams street; this estate is now owned by Mr. 
Edwin B. Pratt. Subsequently Mr. Frederick Hardwick, Eli Veazey and others, began 
the business in a small way. These persons desiring to establish a market for their 
goods, but not having money to employ an agent, decided to club together and raise a 
fund for the purpose, and send some person on a southern tour. They considered Mr. 
Pray the best salesman of their number and engaged him. Mr. Pray immediately pro- 
ceeded on his journey; his first sale was made in Providence, R. I. He continued on 
disposing of bis goods in the various large places, until be arrived at Richmond, Vir- 
ginia, where he closed out his merchandise. He found that his sales had been success- 
ful and that he bad received eleven hundred dollars, all in hard money, which was a 
large sum for the times, and as much as he desired to carry with him, as there were no 
banks where he could exchange his specie for paper. This large amount of money 
caused Mr. Pray great uneasiness as to its safety. On bis journey home, while waiting 
on the wharf for the ferry boat to take him across a river, a gentleman who was stand- 
ing by, witnessing his uneasiness, said to him, " Sir, you have money with you." Mr. 
Pray replied that he had. The gentleman then said, " if you cross that stream without 
protecting yourself with some weapon of defence, you will be robbed by those negroes 
who command the boat ; as soon as they get in the centre of the river, they will slack 
up and then take your money." On this suggestion Mr. Pray acted ; he selected his 
weapon and cautiously concealed it under his coat and proceeded on his way. On ap- 
proaching the centre of the stream, he found that the statement of tlie gentleman on 
the wharf was too true, for sure enough, the negroes on nearing the centre of the river 
began to slack up and make preparations to relieve him of his money. Now was tlie 
time for his defence. Mr. Pray iiuietly took from under his coat a huge club, and with 
a tirm hand and determined air exclaimed to the negroes, " By the great Gods, if you do 
not proceed, I will smash the first negro's head who refuses to do his duty." This 
declamation had its desired effect, as he soon safely reached the shore. This journey 
was probably the first attempt to establish a southern wholesale market for this class 
of goods. 

Mr. Noah Curtis was among the pioneera of the boot and shoe business. He learned 
his trade of a Mr. Ripley. In 1791, at the age of nineteen he began to make shoes, and 
in April 1794, began to manufacture them for sale. In 1795, nine hundred and fifty-one 
pairs were made and sold. The price paid the workmen for hand sewed shoes, was one 

77 



(50'i AITKNDIX. 

\aluc of buildiiij; Htouo «|uiiiiied iiiul prepared for buildins, $238,000; hands 
einployod, .'U4. 

Firewood preparod for market, 2'tO cords; value, #1,500. 

Horses, 302; value, $3r),()!t.'). Oxen over three years old, Tii; steers under 
three years old, — ; value of oxen and steers, .tf.^.iMiO. Milch cows, 442; heifers, 
r>; value of cows and heifers, .'H!ir),(ir)0. Indian corn, 100 acres, with 43 bushels 
per acre; value of corn, #."), 155.70. Rye, 38 acres, with 24 bushels per acre; 
value of rye, f 1,140. Barley, 35 acres, with 25 bushels i)er acre; value of bar- 
ley, .tfH75. Potatoes, 50 acres, with 110 bushels per acre; value of potatoes, 
•tf5,5()0. Turnips, Ij acres, with 400 bushels per acre; value of turnips, #175. 

shiUtiif; per pair, or two dollars per dozoii, and they wore sold rroni eight shillings six 
peiK'o to nine wliillings si.x peneo per pair. 

In ISO'.', boots began to coino into use, for which ho paid for making and lilting .ti!l.r>(), 
exclusive of iltting !»0 cents per pair for hand sowed, and roeoivod for these from $5.00 
lo $f).50 per pair. In 1S22, he begun to consign his boots to soutiioru houses in New 
Orleans, Savannah, diarlostoji and Kichmond; in tlioso southern towns and cities lie 
(wtablishod a largo trade. Jfis manufactory was on Penn's Hill. 

His sons Adam and Sanuusl began business in isl!) at Mr. Dwello's place on the same 
hill. In 1820, they moved to the old Adams mansion on Fraidvlin street, where they 
carried on their business until IS2!), when Mr. Adam Curtis erectod his house on Frank- 
lin street. In connection with his house ho built a shop where ho remained until IS.^O, 
when he built his largo factory on the corner of Fraidtlin and Pearl streets. Messrs. 
('urtis carried on a large business in line Froiurh goods. From 1853 to 1858, their factory 
for the maJiing of uice French calf boots was the largest and most extensive of any in 
the Stales for haml sewed wt>rk, emi>loying three hundred of the best artisans in the 
country; they also gave employment to one hundred titters. Their boots were known 
and sold lu all the principal cities throughout the United States. In 1842, the linn was 
changed to Aiiam Curtis & Oo. 185C was their largest year's work, when they inanu- 
tuctured four thousand cases, or forty-eight thousand pairs. The civil war seriously 
interfered with their large .southern trade; heavy losses and other causes, caused the 
firm soon after the close of the war to relinipiish business. 

Frt>m 1820 to 1830 Mr. Nathaniel White carried on a very large business in the manu- 
I'ai'tnre of heavy brogans for the southern trade, in which industry he accunnilated 
iiuite a competiMicy for that time. Subse(puintly he entert^d into company with Mr. 
I'llijah Spear, and the tirm's name was White & Spear. This lirm gave up making bro- 
gans and eounnencod the manufacture of fine calf boots. After the death of Mr. Elijah 
Spear, in is;!!), Mr. White t'ontinucd the business. Kelimiuishing the nnmufacturo of 
boots, Mr. White entoro<l into llie lumber and I'oal trade, which did not prove tinan- 
ciidly successful. 

Mr. .lohn 1). Whicluu- began manufacturing cheap pegged boots al)Oul 1817, and 
cstablislunl by untiring industry a very successful and lucrative business; later he 
carried on machine sewed work in connection with his pegged. He was engaged in 
this business until his sudden death which occurred in Septembor, 1877. Mr. Whicher 
at the time of his decease, was in possession of a greater amount of property than any 
other person engaged in the l)oot and shoo business in this town. Tho apprizement of 
his estate was al)out two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. The business is still 
carried on by his successors. 

The other llrnis in this town are J. K. Graham & Co., K. W. 11. Bass for Noah Curtis 
\ <'o., Thomas (/urtis, Franklin Curtis, Winslow M. Newcomb and others. 

A nunig tho original liruis and pei-sons engaged in the mannfacliu'ing of boots an<i 
shoes, not now in business, wore Kli Vcasey, Frederick Hnrdwick. William P. & .1. M. 



APPENDIX. 



603 



Carrots, s acres, with 400 bushels per acre; vahie of carrots, .1iil,05fi. English 
inowiug land, 1,30<I acres; English bay cut, 1,450 tons; value of hay, §2*1,000. 
Wet meadow or swale bay, 18 tons; value, .1i;i44. Salt hay, 780 tons; value, 
§7,800. Apple trees, 4,1(50; value, §4,565. Pear trees, 1,875; value, .?450. 
Swine raised, 340; value, §6,350. Milk produced, 176,800 gallons; value, 
.924,752. 

English and West India goods, apothecary, jewelry and variety stores, 18; 
amount of business of the same, §213,000. 

Establishments for the manufacture of bootmaker's ink, 1 ; value of ink 
manufactured, §6,000. 



Hardwick, Henry Hardwick, Levi B. Josephs, John B. Dwelle, J. & H. H. Faxon, Benja- 
min Curtis, George Briesler & Fowle, Jabez Bigelow, William Ditson, Nathaniel Wild, 
Nathan H. White, who was the first person in town to inanufacture boots by a sew- y 
ing machine, Sanniel Wliite, M. R. & E. Marsh, Pope & Penniman, J.Warren Carlton, / 
\ James T. Penniman, Wm. Nash, Charles & Lewis Curtis, Wood & Cleverly, Thompson 
Baxter, Elijah Baxter and Charles Marsh, who was succeeded by his brother Edwin. 

In the early days of the business the nianufaeturers of boots .and shoes were accus- 
tomed to market tliem by putting a yoke across their shoulders, and attaching their mer- 
chandise in panniers to it, walk to Boston and dispose of them from their stalls located 
near North Market street or otherwise, and return the same day. 
The tirst shoemaker in the Colony appears to have been a Mr. Thomas Beard, who 
V came over in the Mayflower, and was to be maintained at the pidilic charge for £10 a 
year. The governor of the Colony was to direct his place of employment. Mr. Beard 
brought with him a supply of leather for his use, upon which he was to pay £4 per ton 
freight. It was also voted that fifty acres of land should be alioted him as compensa- 
tion for paying his transportation charges. It seems almost incredible, that in little^ 
more than twenty years after the settlement of the Colony that she should export boots 
and shoes, but such was the case, as at this early period Boston merchants began ex- 
porting calfskin boots and shoes manufactured at Lynn. Shoes, called stuff shoes, for 
women's wear, were subsequently quite extensively manufactured at Lynn, but oidy 
commonly worn by the most wealthy; the less opulent wore them on important occasions 
such as weddings, and preserved them as too delicate for ordinary use. Morocco leather 
was not in use at this tiuie, and it was not until 1770 that this article was brought to 
public notice by the noted Lord Timothy Dexter, lu 1796, it was manufactured at 
■ Charlestown, Mass., by Mr. Elisha Mead. At this early period of the settlement of the 
Colonies the laboring classes wore neat leather shoes principally during the Colonial 
period. In 1677 shoemakers were not to charge for shoes above five and a half i.ence a 
■ size, " for all playne and wooden-heeled shoes. Three-soled shoes well made not above 
seven and a half pence a size, and the same for French falls." To mark false sizes, 
or to sell above the price established by custom involved the forfeiture of the goods. 

lu 1629, the price established in Massachusetts for shoes when ordered of largo sizes 
were two to two shillings sixpence a pair. Shoestrings as now worn took the place of 
the shoe-rose, under the Stuarts, and buckles resembling the horso bean came into use 
about 1688 ; " round toed" and " wooden heels" was the fashion of that day. The intro- 
duction of pegged work gave an impetus to the boot and shoo business. This introduction 
as far as we have been able to learn, was made by Mr. Joseph Walker of Ilopkinton, 
Massachusetts, in 1818, which produced quite a revolution in the boot and shoe trade. 
" Previous to this time sewed work alone was made." After the introduction of the 
shoe peg, this " revolutionary instrument," about seven-eighths of the shoes made 
were pegged. At the present time machine sewed work has largely superseded hand 
sowed and pegged goods. 



604 APPENDIX. 

Establishments for melting lead and preparing it for market, 1 ; value of lead, 
^7,000. 

Sloops employed in freighting stone and other articles, 10; hands employed, 
45 men and boys. 

INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS FOR 18()5. 

I'rinting and newspaper establishments, 1 ; value of stock used, $300. News- 
paper printed, Quincy Patriot; issued weekly. Gross value, .'SI, 000; capital, 
$400; all other printing done, $800; capital, $300; hands employed— males, 4, 
females, 1. 

rhotographic establishments, 1; value of stock used, $225; photographs 
taken, 2,000; value, $800; capital, $200; hands employed, 1. 

Harness manufacturers, 2; harnesses manufactured, 5; value, $200; value of 
stock used, $125; capital, $500; hands employed, 4. 

Ship yards, 1; value of material used, $58,000; vessels launched, 2; amount 
of tonnage, 1,55!); value, $75,000; capital, $50,000; hands employed, 50. 

Boat manufacturers, 2; value of material used, $875; boats built, 5; value, 
$1,100; capital, $300; hands employed, 3. 

Sail-lofts, 1; sails made of foreign fabrics, 50; value of fabric, $8,000; value 
of sails, $12,000; capital, $1,000; hands employed, 3. 

Establishments for the manufacture of wagons, sleighs and other vehicles, 2; 
number of wagons made, 5; sleighs, 2; value, $700; value of stock used, $500; 
cai)ital, $1,200; hands employed, 5. 

Clothing manufacturers, 4; value of stock used, $24,000; value of clothing, 
$34, 5(H); capital, $8,000; males employed, 10; females, 40. 

Marble and grave-stone establishments, 1; value of stone used, $1,.500; value 
of grave-stones manufactured, $4,500; capital, $200; hands employed, 5. 

Master builders, 5; buildings erected, 3; value, $1,825; value of materials 
used, $1,167; hands employed, (i. 

Blacksmith shops, 4; value of stock used, $1,400; value of work done, $10,- 
000; capital, $2,900; hands employed, 7. 

Tin ware manufacturers, 2; value of stock used, $900; value of ware, $1,300; 
capital, $300; hands employed, 2. 

Tanning and currying establishments, (j; value of stock used, $11,400; hides 
tanned, 15,000; hides curried, 32,200; value, $160,220; capital, $76,400; hands 
employed, 43.* 

* The first tanner and currier that we have any account of, was Mr. Benjamin 
Webb, who in 1700, bought of Benjamin Tompson, the old schoolmaster, one aero and a 
half of land for £82, 10s., as a place to erect a building for his business. The boundary 
of this estate was as follows, viz: — " Northerly on the town brook that runs tlirougli 
the heart of Braintree ; southerly with the town land adjoining the old school house; 
easterly on land of James Brackett ; westerly on the County road, with dwelling-liouso 
thereon." This old tannery remained in the Webb family until 1816, when Mr. Aiithony 
Baxter purchased the estate and continued the business. In 1823 Mr. Francis Williams 
assumed business here. In 1831, Mr. John Mulford engaged this establishment for 
t;inning hides, where he remained until he moved to the opposite side of the street 
where he erected a tannery, which some years ago was burnt down. The land with the 
old viits and pits are now in the possession of Mr. William Panton. Mr. Williams aftei- 
the removal of Mr. Mulford from the Webb tannery resumed business there again. 



APPENDIX. 605 

Boots of all kinds mauufactured, 118,737 pairs; shoes, 9G'2 pairs; gross value 
of stock used, $308,155; value of boots and shoes manufactured, S-l(>7,t)()5 ; capi- 
tal, SSOl.OOO; males employed, 351; females, 121. 

Blacking manufacturers, 1; value of stock used, §5,000; value of blacking, 
$!10,000; capital, .1?1,000; hands employed, 2. 

Gas establishments, 1: value of stock used, $2,500; value of gas, S4,0()(), 
capital, $12,500; hands employed, 2. 

Ice dealers, 2; tons of ice preserved, 2,1(X); value, $2,000; capital, $2,200; 
hands employed, 3. 

Bakeries, 1; value of stock used, $7,0(K); value of bread manufactured, $10,- 
000; capital, $1,000; males employed, 3; females, 2. 

Subsequently Mr. Joseph Adams and Mr. Patrick Garrlty carried on there the dressing 
of leatlier. Finally INIr. "Williams disposed of this estate to Mr. J. Q. "Wild, who removed 
tlie buildings, and this old tannery ceased to exist. 

The next tannery was built by Mr. Elijah Veazie on Granite street, nearly opposite 
the old Scotch Pond road which has been for years discontinued. Mr. Veazie con- 
structed this work sometime previous to the Revolutionary "War. Not much business 
was transacted liere after the commencement of the present century with the exception 
of grinding a little bark. 

Mr. Henry A. Gay built a tannery on Canal street about 1831, nearly opposite the junc- 
tion of Chestnut street with it, where Mr. Edward Turner's house now stands. Mr. Gay's 
tannery was a model one, as he had constructed his vats and pits in tlie most improved 
manner, which enabled him to transact his business more economically. l7i early times 
a ^Ir. Glover built a tannery at Squautum, where he was quite extensively engaged in 
business. At the present time there is no tanning carried on in town. 

In the early settlement of the Colonies the tanning and currying business was of 
great importance, as they not only had to dress leather for making shoes, but also 
clothing. The understandings of our " Forefathers," were not the degenerate sizes of 
the present period, as the ordinary sizes of that day were from tens to thirteeus. For 
many j'ears the dress of servants, and to a large extent of all the active classes consist- 
ed in part of leather. Deer skins were the favorite skins tanned as buff leather, and 
many of them were obtained by the sportsman's musket, or in trade with the Indian, 
which provided them with a substantial material for their clothing, "hose of leather, 
lyued with oiled leather," •' gloves of calves leather," and " breeches of oyled leather." 

By statute, " No leather over lined or insutliciently tanned, or not thoroughly dried 
after tanning, might be exposed for sale. Tainiers putting leather into hot or warm 
* moors' or sitting there ' fatts' in places improper where the leather would heat and 
burn, were to forfeit A;20 for each offence." 

At the time Mr. Webb began the business of tanning the price of green hides were 
3 pence, and dry hides 6 pence, selling price 12 pence. Buck, doeskin and deer skins 
for clothing were dressed in oil, sold from 8s, 6d. to 5s ; those dresseil with hair on one 
side sold for Is. to 8s. per pound. So great was the demand for this commodity, that in 
1747, South Carolina exported 720 hogsheads of deer skins ; in 1755, North Carolina 
exported 30,000 deer skins; Georgia 213,475 pounds. 

The tanneries of this early date were constructed in the most primitive and rude 
manner. " A greater or less number of oblong boxes or liogsheads, was sunk in the 
ground near a fresli water stream, without cover or outlet below, to serve as vats and 
leeches. Similar boxes above the ground for lime vats and pools. .Vn open shed for a 
beam house, and a circular trough fifteen feet in diameter, in which the bark was 
crushed by alternate wooden and stone wheels, turned by two old bliml liorses, at the 
rate of half. a cord a day." This completed a lirst-class tannery. 



606 APPENDIX. 

Olains taken, 2,500 bushels; value, .D!2,5(X); capital, $500; hands employetl, 8. 
Alewives taken, 15,000; value, fl50; hands employed, 7. 

\'^essels engaged in coasting or carrying trade, 3; tonnage, 88,"$; value, .fnOjOOO; 
amount received for freight, f-14,(W7; hands employed, 21. 

Apple trees, 7,940; value of apples, .'}f;i,084. Pear trees, 3,789; value of pears, 
f 1,433. Another trees cultivated for their fruit, 1,122; value, ?i!500. Value of 
berries cultivated or gathered for market, lii!750. Grapes, do., $300. 

Sheep, 73; value, $305. Wool produced, 219 pounds; value, $109.50. Horses, 
447 ; value, $(i7,050. Oxen over four years old, 30 ; value, $4,500. Milch cows, 
545; heifers, 25; value of cows and heifers, $27,875. Gallons of milk sold, 
210,220; value, $42,045.20. Pounds of butter sold, 500; value, $2(K). 

Beef dressed, 0(i9,200 pounds; value, $80,204. Pork, 130,410 pounds; value, 
$23,473.80. Mutton, 9,100 pounds; value, $1,092. Veal, 160,50 pounds; value, 
$2,080.50. Swine, 530; value, $10,()00. Value of poultry, $858. ^'alue of eggs 
sold, $1,345. 

Slate quarries, 1 ; A-alue, $800; capital, .$2(K); hands employed, 2. 

Establishments for melting lead and preparing it for market, 1 ; value of lead, 
$10,000; capital, $3,000; hands employed, 3. 

Sloops and other vessels employed in freighting stone, &c., 15; tonnage, 715; 
value of vessels, $18,500; receipts for freight, $25,000; hands employed, 00. 

Smelts and other tish seined for market, 20 tons; value, $3,000. Other tisli, 
2 tons; value, $320. Capital, $100; haflds employed, 0. 

Pump establishments, 1 ; value of stock used, $40; value of pumps, $90; 
capital, $100; hands employed, 1. 

Manufacturers of coffins and burial cases of all kinds, 1 ; value of stock used, 
$18; coffins made, 12, value, $30; capital, $100; hands employed, 1. 

Stone quarries, 10; value of building stone quarried and prepared for market, 
$271,880; capital, $133,000; hands employed, 30(!. 

Kirewood prepared for market, 701 cords; value, $(i,088; capital, $2,000; 
hands employed, 'Mi. 

Farms, ()(>; acres, 4,095; A-alue, including buildings, $504,650; number of 
acres improved, 3,038; hands employed, 151. 

ITnimproved land, 1,050 acres; unimprovable land, 1,000 acres; woodland, 
2,850 acres; value, $85,500. 

Indian corn, 97 acres, 3,004 bushels; value, $4,500. Rye, 11 acres, 107 bush- 
els; value, $283,090. Harley, 2 acres, 10 bushels; value, $32. Potatoes, 40 
acres, 5,022 bushels; value, $0,277.50. Turnips, 11 acres, 2,201 bushels; value, 
$1,100.,50. Onions, 4 acres, 488 bushels; value, $970. Carrots, acres, 1,975 
bushels; value, $987.50. Cabbages, 7 acres; value, $1,258. Winter squashes, 
4 acres; value, $282. ISIarket gardening, 5 acres; value of products, $928. 
lieets and other esculent vegetables, 2 acres, 320 bushels; value, $200. Cran- 
berries, i acre, 20 bushels; value, $UX). English mowing land, 1,495 acres, 
1 ,()20 tons of hay ; value, $50,910. Wet meadow or swale land, 00 acres, 57 tons 
of hay; value, $798. Salt marsh land, 098 acres, 732 tons of hay; value, 
$14,040. 

Vessels employed in freighting tish to market, 2; tonnage, 20; value of ves- 
sels, $500; hands employed, 5. 



APPENDIX. 607 

Aggregate of domestic and agricultural products, for the towns of Braintree, 
Holbrook, Quincy and Randolph, tor the year 187"): — 

liRAiuTREE, — Domestic products for use, $4,1H0; domestic products for sale, 
$4,170; hay, 1,2:M tons, .125,73:5; other agricuUural i)roducts, .11171,080. 
Total, $105,11:?. 
Holbrook, — Domestic products for sale, ■$2,7;iS; domestic jjroducts for use, 
$180; hay, 4(50 tons. $6,.j01 ; other agricultural products, $2,0ri'2. 
Total, $11,477. 
Quincy, — Domestic products for sale, ■'5_',!'.")"2: domestic products for use, $r)4l>; 
hay, 1,428 tons, $.S0,529; other agricultural ])roducts, .*i!8!i,ll(). 
Total, §12:5,14:5. 
Randolph, — Domestic products for sale, $11,1:58; domestic products for use, 
.$4,108; hay, 911 tons, $1.5,0(>1: other agricultural products. .$24,1.57. 
Total, .$54,4(54. 

Value of farm property, stock, &c. : — 

Braintree,— Number of farms from 'A acres upwards, 118; value of land, 
$329,{»05; number of buildings, 27:^; value, $312,aTO; fruit trees and 
vines, $20,077; domestic animals, .$;59,.565; agricultural implements in 
use, $11,500. 

Total, $713..S97. 
Holbrook, — Number of farms from 3 acres upwards, 8; value of land, $19,205; 
number of buildings, 8; value, .$5,7.50; domestic animals, $1,(505; agricul- 
tural implements in u.se, $250. 
Total, .$2(5,810. 
Quincy, — Number of farms from :5 acres upwards, 4(5; value of laud, $549,905; 
number of buildings, 144; value, $103,1.50; fruit trees 'and vines, .$G,9:50; 
domestic animals, $48,508; agricultural implements in use, $1(5,87(5. 
Total, $(522,219. 
Randolph,— Number of farms from :> acres upwards, 70; value of land, 
.$213,405; number of buildings, 287; value, $2:52,100; fruit trees and 
vines, $9,()7:>; domestic animals, .$2(),40G; agricultural implements in 
use, $13,048. 

Total, .$4!H,(5:i2. 



BUAINTREE. 1875. Number of Capital Viihie. 

Establishiueuts. Invested. 

Manufactures (goods made), 21 .1i>(53<5,7.5() $1,019,705 

Occupation (work done), 20 11, (j:;:: 29,(501 

Total, 41 $(548,38:; $1,G49,:50() 

Some of the principal manufactures: — 

Boots, 

Boots and Shoes, 

Cardigan Jackets, 

Leather, 

Sawed Lumber, 

Cabinet Organs, 



() 


$142,1.50 


$2.59,407 


•-> 


3,20() 


l(i,407 


1 


3,900 


8,000 


1 


5(),()(H) 


200,(^)0 


1 


4.(HtO 


15,(K)0 


1 


1 1 ,:m 


15,800 



608 



APPENDIX. 



Indian and Rye Meal, 

Wrapping Paper, 

Ilailroad Conductor's Punches, 

Shoe Nails, Tacks, Brads, etc.. 

Stoves, Animal Traps, Tinware, etc., 

Yarn, Twine, Webbing and Crash, 

Some of the principal occupations : — 
Blacksmithing, 
Butchering, 

Harness and Saddle Repairing, 
Painting, 
W heel wrigh ting, 



Number of 
Istablishnients. 


Capital 
Invested. 


1 


17,000 


1 


20,000 


1 


2,500 


1 


25,000 


2 


7,500 


3 


350,000 


5 


2,900 


1 


2,000 


2 


2,150 


2 


2,808 


2 


650 



HOLBROOK. 1875. 

Manufactures (goods made). 
Occupation (work done), 

Total, 
Some of the principal establishments 
Boots, 

Boots aud Shoes, 
Shoes, 
Shoe Strings, 



QUINCY. 1875. 

Manufactures (goods made). 
Occupation (work done). 

Total, 
Some of the leading industries:— 
Bread and Pastry, 
Men's Boots, 
Boots and Shoes, 
Boots, Shoes and Gaiters, 
Calf and Split Leather, 
Rough and Dressed Granite, 
Stone Cutting and Dressing, 
Felt Goods, 
Ships Built, 
Iron Castings, 
Blacksmithing, 
Carpentering and Joining, 
Masonry, 
Painting, 

Meal, Corn and Rye, 
Buildings, 



28 
5 

33 



$228,400 
600 

f22}),000 



Value. 

56,600* 
47,891 

3,000 
.^5,000 

7,600 
955,000 

9,200 
3,000 
2,934 
4,427 
2,740 



1,044,996 
4,800 

1,049,796 



18 


$91,400 


$483,316 


7 


11(),000 


417,680 


2 


20,000 


137,000 


1 


1,000 


7,000 


82 


$954,180 


$1,764,266 


96 


82,411 


322,806 


178 


$1,036,591 


$2,087,072 


1 


$6,000 


$60,000 


1 


30,000 


304,501 


7 


12,700 


80,362 


2 


9,000 


35,600 


4 


9,100 


36,990 


25 


538,000 


619,284 


12 


50,200 


156,600 


1 


25,000 


33,945 


2 


140,000 


149,300 


1 


45,000 


59,657 


7 


4,500 


28,912 


14 


7,250 


59,775 


9 


4,800 


25,250 


9 


3,040 


16,625 


1 


10,000 


55,000 


16 


23,380 


158,025 



APPENDIX. 



Number of 
Establishments. 

43 
101 

143 



RANDOLPH. 1875, 

Manufactures (goods made), 
Occupation (work done), 

Total, 

Some of the leading industries: 

Boots, 

Boots and Shoes, 

Leather Shoestrings, 

Stone Cutting and Dressing, 

Butchering, 

Carpentry and Joinery, 

Clothing (custom made). 

Shoddy, inner soles and heels, 



Number of votes cast annually for Governor in 
incorporation in 1792 to 1878 inclusive:— 



Capital 
Invested. 

S;i49,450 
58,181 



609 

Value. 

$1,152,951 
149,4:?5 



$-207,031 $1,302,380 



10 


$27,200 


$164,396 


15 


65,550 


648,340 


1 


25,000 


200,000 


1 


8,000 


20,000 


1 


16,000 


13,000 


6 


13,700 


51,000 


3 


2,500 


27,175 


1 


1,200 


13,000 



the Town of Quincy from its 



YEAR. 

1792. 
1793. 
1794. 

1795. 
1790. 

1797. 



1798. 
1799. 

1800. 



1801. 
1802. 

1803. 
1804, 
1805 



John Hancock, 
John Hancock, 
Samuel Adams, 
William Cashing, 
Samuel Adams, 
Samuel Adams, 
Increase Sumner, 
Increase Sumner, 
James Sullivan, 
Moses Gill, 
Increase Sumner, 
Increase Sumner, 
. William Heath, 
Caleb Strong, 
Elbridge Gerry, 
William Heath, 
Caleb Strong, 
Elbridge Gerry, 
Caleb Strong, 
Elbridge Gerry, 
William Heath, 
Caleb Strong, 
Elbridge Gerry, 
Caleb Strong, 
James Sullivan, 
, Caleb Strong, 
James Sullivan, 

78 



VOTE. 
51 

40 

32 

10 

41 

40 

13 

44 
5 


44 

57 
9 

55 
11 
1 
GO 
19 
70 
25 
1 
70 
17 
68 
17 
98 
28 



YEAB. NAME. 

1806. Caleb Strong, 
James Sullivan, 
William Heath, 

1807. James Sullivan, 
Caleb Strong, 

1808. James Sullivan, 
Christopher Gore, 

1809. Christopher Gore, 
Levi Lincoln, 

1810. Elbridge Gerry, 
Christopher Gore, 

1811. Elbridge Gerry, 
Christopher Gore, 

1812. Caleb Strong, 
Elbridge Gerry, 

1813. Caleb Strong, 
Joseph B. Varnum, 

1814. Caleb Strong, 
Samuel Dexter, 

1815. Caleb Strong, 
Samuel Dexter, 

1816. John Brooks, 
S. Dexter, 

1817. John Brooks, 
Henry Dearborn, 

1818. John Brooks, 



VOTE. 

106 
47 

1 

03 

91 

59 

87 

93 

52 

65 

100 

08 

89 

127 

59 

140 

.54 
127 

45 
120 

37 
115 

53 
115 

45 
107 



Benjamin Crowninshield, 34 



(jlU 




APPENDIX. 






YEAK, 


NAME. 


VOTE. 


YEAR. 


NAME. 


VOTE. 


1819. 


John Brooks, 


112 


1841. 


M. Morton, 


320 




Benjamin Crowninsliield, 37 




John Davis, 


280 


1820. 


John Brooks, 


110 




Scattering, 


14 




William Eustis, 


42 


1842. 


M. Morton, 


30.3 


1821. 


John Brooks, 


120 




John Davis, 


272 




William Eustis, 


40 




Samuel C. Sewall, 


21 


1822. 


John Brooks, 


110 


1843. 


M. Morton, 


304 




William Eustis, 


44 




G. N. Brij-gs, 


278 


1823. 


H. G. Otis, 


135 




Samuel 0. Sewall, 


57 




William Eustis, 


()9 


1844. 


G. N. Briggs, 


318 


1824. 


William Eustis, 


77 




G. Bancroft, 


326 




Samuel Lathrop, 


140 




S. E. Sewall, 


64 


1825. 


Levi Lincoln, 


91 


1845. 


G. N. Briggs, 


258 




Samuel Ijathrop, 


2 




Isaac N. Davis, 


191 


1826. 


Levi Lincoln, 


105 




Samuel E. Sewall, 


41 




James Loyd, 


2 




Henry Shaw, 


25 


1827. 


Levi Lincoln, 


90 


1840. 


G. N. Briggs, 


225 




Samuel Hobart, 


9 




Isaac N. Davis, 


169 


1828. 


Levi Lincoln, 


85 




S. E. Sewall, 


45 




M. Morton, 


1 


1847. 


G. N. Briggs, 


249 


1829. 


Levi Lincoln, 


142 




Caleb Gushing, 


225 




M. Morton, 


1 




Samuel Sewall, 


34 


1830. 


Levi Lincoln, 


129 




Eleazer Wright, 


3 




M. Morton, 


9 


1848. 


G. N. Briggs, 


255 


1831. 


Levi Lincoln, 


210 




Stephen C. Phillips, 


250 




M. Morton, 


14 




0. Gushing, 


34 


1832. 


Levi Lincoln, 


87 




B. F. Hallett, 


4 




Samuel Lathrop, 


91 


1849. 


G. N. Briggs, 


272 




M. Morton, 


20 




G. S. Boutwell, 


101 


1833. 


John C^. Adams, 


149 




Stephen C. Phillips, 


130 




John Davis, 


44 


1850. 


G. N. Briggs, 


272 




M. Morton, 


53 




G. S. Boutwell, 


189 


1834. 


John Davis, 


85 




Stephen C. Phillips, 


126 




John Bailey, 


87 


1851. 


n. C. Winthrop, 


302 




M. Morton, 


40 




G. S. Boutwell 


250 


1835. 


Edward Everett, 


138 




John G. Palfrey, 


119 




M. Morton, 


42 


1852. 


John H. Clifford, 


287 


183(i. 


Edward Everett, 


ItJG 




H. W. Bishop, 


227 




M. Morton, 


148 




Horace Maun, 


189 


1837. 


Edward Everett, 


Hu 


1853. 


Emery Washburn, 


264 




M. INIorton, 


103 




H. W. Bishop, 


156 


1838. 


Edward Everett, 


172 




Henry Wilson, 


116 




M. Morton, 


200 




B. L. Wales, 


60 


1839. 


Edward Everett, 


231 


1854. 


H. J. Gardiner, 


549 




M. Morton, 


320 




B. L. Wales, 


74 


1840. 


M. Morton, 


374 




E. Washburn, 


44 




John Davis, 


326 




H. W. Bishop, 


12 



YEAR. NAME. V 

1855. H. J. fTardiner, 
E. T>. Beach, 
Julin.s IJockwell, 
S. H. Walley. 

1856. H. J. Gardiner, 
George W. Gordon, 
E. D. Beach, 
Luther. V. Bell, 

1857. H. J. Gardiner, 
E. D. Beach, 
N. P. Bank.'!, 

1858. N. P. Banks, 
Amos A. Lawrence, 
E. T>. Beach, 

1850. N. P. Banks, 

Benjamin F. Bntler, 

George X. Briggs, 
18G0. John A. Andrews, 

E. D. Beach, 

Amos A. Lawrence, 

Benjamin F. Butler, 

1861. John A. Andrews, 
Isaac Davis, 

1862. John A. Andrews, 
Charles Devins, Jr., 

ISG;?. John A. Andrews, 

Henry W. Paine, 
1864. John A. Andrews, 

Henry W. Paine, 
18(55. Alexander H. Bullock 

Derius N. Couch, 
1866. Alexander H. Bullock, 

Theodore H. Sweetser 

State Elections were originally held 
November. 



APPENDIX. 




oxx 


OTE. 


YEAR. 


NAME. 


VOTP. 


:{r,7 


1867. 


,Tohn Q. Adams, 


650 


180 




Alexander H. Bullock, 


, 348 


80 


1868. 


William Claflin, 


662 


•27 




John Q. Adams, 


583 


484 


18t)0. 


John Q. Adams, 


581 


182 




"William Claflin, 


.370 


274 


1870. 


John Q. Adams, 


504 


15 




William Claflin. 


43.-. 


2x^ 




Wendell Phillips, 


48 


178 


1871. 


W. B. AVa,shhurn, 


504 


178 




John Q. Adams, 


.367 


258 




E. M. Chamherlin, 


76 


1(14 




Pohert C. Pitman, 


14 


244 


1872. 


W. B. AVashbnrn, 


842 


212 




Francis W. Bird, 


.3.53 


200 


1873. 


W. B. Wa.shburn, 


400 


1(^4 




William Gaston, 


4.50 


426 


1874. 


Thomas Talbot, 


480 


2:?."> 




William Gaston, 


.58(; 


2:5.'? 


1875. 


Alexander H. Eice, 


;i60 


21 




William Gaston, 


.5i)6 


:no 




C. F. Adams, 


50 


251 




John I. Baker, 


00 


.'522 


1876. 


Alexander H. Kice, 


811 


400 




C. F. Adams, 


871 


358 




John T. Baker, 


31 


233 


1877. 


William Gaston, 


627 


570 




Alexander H. Kice, 


47:'. 


3()0 




John I. Baker, 


148 


, 823 


1878. 


Thomas Talbot, 


845 


284 




Benjamin F. Butler,. 


666 


, 574 




Josiah G. Abbott, 


100 


, 4;?4 









in April, but in 1835, were changed to 



Census of the Town of Braiutree in 1765:— 

„ 327 

Houses, 

^ ... .... - .'557 

Famihes, 

Males under sixteen, 

Females under sixteen, 

Males above sixteen, '''_'' 

Females above sixteen, 

„ ----- ••*• 
Negroes, 

Total, exclusive of ludiaus, ..---- '■A6 



612 



APPENDIX. 



Population of Braintree from 1765 to 1875 inclusive. 


The firs 


ifc com pi 


!e.^e 


cen- 


sus of Massachusetts was ordered to be taken in 


1764 


, but was not, how ever. 


completed until the latter part of May, 


1765 


:— 




















Braintree. 


Holbrook.* 


Quincy, 


Randolph. 


Total. 


U. S. Census, 


, 1776, 






2,871 








— 


— 






2,871 


" 


1790, 






2,771 








— 


— 








!,771 


" " 


1800, 






1,285 








1,081 




1,021 


3,387 


" " 


1810, 






1,.351 








1,281 




1,170 


3,802 


11 i( 


1820, 






1,466 








. 1,623 




1,546 


4,635 


<< « 


1830, 






1,758 








2,201 




2,200 


6,159 


" " 


1840, 






2,186 








3,486 




3,213 


8,867 


11 11 


1850, 






2,969 








5,017 




4,741 


11 


!,827 


State 


1855, 






3,472 








5,921 




5,538 


14,931 


U. S. 


1860, 






3,468 








6,778 




5,760 


16,006 


State 


1865, 






3,725 








6,718 




5,734 


16,177 


U. S. 


1870, 






3,948 








7,442 




5,642 


17,032 


State " 


1875. 
' of married 


4,156 
women. 




1,72€ 


i 9,155 

n 1875, (including 


4,064 
all who 


If 
an 


),101 


The numbei 


living i 


5 or 


have been married,) with the number of births to each mother :- 


- 










Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 


Number 

of 
Children. 




o 
PQ 

? 


4 

2 
o 


1 
o 

H 


o 


d 

c 
2 




6 

o 

P3 

> 
1 


% 
'S 

1 


3 
o 


c 

u 
o 
M 
a) 

'A 


6 




One, 




142 


29 


171 


61 


5 


66 


225 


69 


294 


112 


19 


131 


Two, 




125 


25 


150 


56 


12 


68 


229 


85 


314 


93 


21 


114 


Three, 




86 


27 


113 


40 


9 


49 


195 


76 


271 


92 


22 


114 


Four, 




80 


30 


110 


34 


4 


38 


158 


61 


219 


63 


32 


95 


Five, 




51 


30 


81 


14 


8 


22 


108 


75 


183 


38 


37 


75 


Six, 




33 


22 


55 


10 


— 


10 


67 


72 


139 


33 


38 


71 


Seven, ' 




14 


21 


35 


10 


4 


14 


48 


60 


108 


30 


25 


55 


Eight, 




18 


17 


35 


9 


7 


16 


(!0 


39 


99 


20 


30 


50 


Nine, 




13 


20 


33 


6 


5 


11 


34 


35 


69 


10 


20 


30 


Ten, 




15 


9 


24 


5 


— 


5 


23 


22 


45 


6 


22 


28 


Eleven, 




1 


6 


6 


2 


1 


3 


7 


17 


24 


2 


7 


9 


Twelve, 




2 


G 


8 


4 


— 


4 


3 


8 


11 


3 


7 


10 


Thirteen, 




1 


1 


2 


1 


— 


1 


2 


9 


11 


— 


7 


7 


Fourteen, 




— 


1 


1 


— 


— 


— 


— 


3 


3 


— 


2 


2 


Fifteen, 




— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


2 


1 


3 


1 


1 


2 


Sixteen, 




1 


— 


1 


— 


— 


— 


— 


1 


1 


— 


— 


— 


Seventeen, 




— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


1 


— 


1 


— 


1 


1 


Twenty, 




— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


1 


— 


1 



Total mothers, 582 243 825 252 55 307 1162 633 1795 

Total married women, 984 451 2118 



504 291 795 
!M;5 



* Holbrook was incorporated in 1872, Quincy in 1792 and Randolph in 1793. 



APPENDIX. 



613 



Nativities with ages, in 1875. (Aliens include all foreign-born males above 
twenty years of age not naturalized):— 

Aliens. 





Under 


10 yrs. 


10 to 14. 


15 to 20. 


Above 20. 


BRAINTEEE. 




a 




S 




S 


i 


1 


Born in town named, 


299 


311 


74 


70 


112 


91 


374 


367 


Other towns in Mass., 


84 


110 


50 


53 


83 


105 


344 


425 


Other States, 


21 


21 


6 


9 


22 


17 


136 


162 


Foreign countries. 


27 


13 


10 


19 


21 


35 


336 


349 


Total, 


431 


455 


140 


151 


238 


248 


1190 1303 


HOLBROOK. 


















Born in town named, 


161 


154 


47 


67 


62 


70 


220 


200 


Other towns in Mass., 


23 


23 


7 


6 


15 


14 


143 


1(W 


Other States, 


4 


4 


9 


2 


4 


6 


46 


(^6 


Foreign countries, 


4 


2 


3 


2 


9 


4 


102 


77 


Birthplace unknown. 


— 


1 


— 


— 


1 


— 


2 


- 


Total, 


192 


184 


66 


77 


91 


94 


513 


509 


QUINCY. 


















Born in town named. 


620 


642 


251 


217 


293 


275 


535 


597 


Other towns in Mass., 


222 


187 


95 


87 


131 


131 


652 


722 


Other States, 


45 


44 


30 


31 


77 


54 


414 


419 


Foreign countries. 


52 


48 


45 


48 


79 


100 


1050 


955 


Birthplace unknown , 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


7 


— 


Total, 


939 


921 


421 


383 


580 


560 


2658 2693 


RANDOLPH. 


















Born in town named. 


325 


317 


149 


171 


191 


188 


408 


396 


Other towns in Mass., 


G3 


()3 


32 


2() 


44 


61 


258 


258 


Other States, 


8 


11 


4 


4 


10 


10 


125 


124 


Foreign countries, 


8 


7 


7 


10 


19 


10 


382 


375 


Total. 


404 


398 


192 


211 


264 


269 


1173 1153 



161 



63 



526 



98 



The place of birth of the inhabitants of Braintree, Holbrook, Quincy and 
Randolph, in 1875, is shown in the following tables: — 

Braintree. Holbrook. Quincy. Randolph. 



Born in town named, 
Other towns in Mass., 
Other States, 
Foreign born , 
Unknown, 



859 840 

mn cm 

185 209 

394 415 






•3 e 






490 491 16<«> 1731 1073 1072 

188 209 1100 1127 3<>7 408 

63 78 rm 548 147 149 

118 85 1226 1151 416 402 

3 1 7 — — — 



614 



APPENDIX. 





Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 






S 


"3 
o 


<0 


a 


1 
o 
H 


"3 


"3 

a 
fa 


3 

o 


6 
Is 


CD 

a ^ 

® O 


Born in England, 


42 


49 


91 


4 


1 


5 


106 


79 


185 


14 


6 20 


Ireland, 


233 249 482 


67 


54 


121 


668 722 


1390 


354 342 69(5 


Scotland, 


42 


50 


92 


— 


— 


— 


83 


60 


143 


2 


3 5 


Wales, 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


36 


26 


62 


— 


— — 


Dominion of Canada, 


58 


56 114 


45 


26 


71 


219 


208 


427 


32 


42 74 


Other British Possessions, 


— 


2 


2 


— 


2 


2 


2 


— 


2 


1 


3 4 


France, 


— 


5 


5 


_. 


— 


— 


18 


4 


22 


3 


— 3 


Germany, 


!) 


o 


11 


1 


1 


2 


19 


14 


33 


4 


3 7 


Portugal and its Colonies, 


2 


— 


2 


— 


— 


— 


2 


1 


3 


2 


1 3 


Italy, 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


15 


1 


16 


— 


— — 


Sweden and Norway, 


2 


2 


4 


— 


— 


— 


31 


28 


59 


— 


') •> 


Spain and its Colonies, 


2 


— 


2 


— 


— 


— 


1 


— 


1 


1 


- 1 


Denmark, 


2 


— 


2 


— 


— 


— 


5 


2 


7 


— 


— — 


Russia, Poland & Finland 


— 


— 


— 


1 


— 


1 


6 


2 


8 


2 


2 


Holland and Brazil, 


1 


— 


1 


— 


— 


— 


— 


1 


1 


1 


— 1 


Switzerland, 


1 


— 


1 


— 


— 


— 


2 


1 


3 


— 


— — 


Austria, 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


3 


— 


3 


— 


— _ 


Greece and Persia, 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


4 


— 


4 


— 


— — 


Countries not designated. 


— 


1 


1 


— 


— 


— 


.-! 


1 


4 


— 


__ _ 


At Sea, 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


— 


•' 


1 


4 


— 


— — 



The aiies of the inhabitants of Braintree, Holbrook, Quincy and Randolph, 
for the year 1875, are given in the following table: — 

Braintree. Holbrook. Quincy. Randolph. 



Age. 





t« 


fa 


S 


fa 


f^ 


fa 


t^ 


fa 


1 month. 


(! 


6 


— 


3 


(5 


13 


4 


4 


2 months, 


4 


5 


3 


— 


9 


9 


8 


2 


3 


1 


4 


o 


1 


15 


10 


4 


5 


4 


4 


8 


2 


1 


9 


10 


2 


2 


5 


4 


3 


2 


;; 


9 


12 


1 


4 


6 


5 


4 


4 


1 


16 


13 


7 


6 


7 


7 


2 


1 


2 


7 


5 


8 


1 


8 


5 


6 


2 


1 


• 10 


11 


2 


2 


9 " 


5 


1 


4 


3 


7 


4 


— 


— 


10 


4 


5 


2 


— 


3 


9 


— 


— 


11 


1 


— 


1 


— 


o 


2 


— 


— 


1 year. 


2(5 


36 


9 


• 8 


71 


87 


4(5 


44 


2 years, 


44 


53 


2(5 


O;; 


98 


113 


51 


33 


3 " 


45 


44 


25 


21 


114 


100 


31 


54 


4 " 


49 


60 


20 


18 


89 


90 


35 


28 



615 



Age. 

5 years, 

C. " 

7 

8 " 

!) " 

10 " 

11 " 

12 " 

13 " 

14 " 

15 " 

16 " 

17 . " 

18 " 

19 " 

20 " 

21 " 

22 " 

23 " 

24 " 

25 " 

26 " 

27 " 

28 " 

29 " 

30 " 

31 " 

32 " 

33 " 

34 " 

35 " 

m " 

37 " 

38 " 

39 " 

40 ' 

41 ' 

42 ' 

43 ' 

44 ' 

45 ' 

46 ' 
47 

48 





APPENDIX 








VJJ 


in 


Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quiiicy. 


Randolph. 


1 


1 

V 




i 

15 
S 






i 




24 


31 


22 


28 


106 


104 


43 


52 


37 


48 


20 


20 


77 


92 


25 


31 


44 


38 


17 


20 


102 


73 


44 


37 


40 


42 


18 


20 


94 


8S 


50 


43 


54 


39 


12 


10 


69 


74 


35 


4() 


26 


37 


1() 


10 


89 


7() 


40 


48 


38 


26 


17 


21 


75 


76 


29 


39 


33 


32 


6 


12 


101 


69 


43 


;«; 


31 


44 


19 


20 


71 


8() 


46 


37 


40 


;56 


8 


17 


93 


78 


41 


57 


36 


43 


17 


12 


108 


84 


48 


37 


32 


64 


13 


21 


91 


9() 


40 


48 


43 


40 


13 


14 


103 


82 


35 


43 


55 


57 


12 


16 


95 


110 


39 


50 


55 


42 


19 


10 


97 


99 


44 


49 


25 


55 


17 


24 


82 


102 


M 


41 


28 


48 


15 


8 


102 


83 


49 


;?5 


33 


50 


21 


17 


93 


105 


44 


27 


24 


44 


18 


14 


104 


88 


37 


35 


35 


27 


17 


14 


102 


88 


38 


29 


42 


36 


12 


18 


95 


1(H) 


31 


33 


23 


31 


12 


12 


93 


97 


*)'> 


29 


;58 


34 


14 


13 


75 


69 


41 


;{5 


47 


39 


16 


15 


91 


91 


36 


32 


20 


30 


<) 


13 


64 


72 


20 


26 


42 


38 


15 


13 


111 


hh; 


3i» 


40 


25 


28 


10 


6 


46 


53 


25 


27 


27 


21 


15 


10 


iio 


59 


28 


30 


26 
23 


23 
■'2 


12 
9 


;) 
11 


73 
49 


58 
51 


24 

19 


2() 
26 


33 
26 


37 
24 


9 
12 


16 
12 


77 
54 


80 
73 


37 
20 


32 
22 


25 


33 


13 


20 


51 


55 


27 


21 


29 


24 


11 


20 


57 


65 


26 


24 


22 
37 
16 


2() 
41 

18 


10 

21 

8 


lit 
13 
11 


4(J 

87 

;'.6 


60 
99 
39 


14 
29 
17 


29 
39 
11 


18 


28 


10 


7 


50 


48 


27 


17 


25 
24 
24 
25 


23 
20 
33 
29 


11 

7 

16 
9 


8 

15 

5 

9 


43 

;j5 

77 
32 


39 
43 
68 
34 


Hi 
16 
35 
17 


21 
23 
29 
12 


12 


20 


7 


8 


32 


25 


16 


— ' 


34 


29 


11 


8 


44 


50 


20 


25 



616 



APPENDIX. 







Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincj'. 


Randolph. 




Age. 


01 


a 




e 




s 




S 


49 


years. 


19 


26 


6 


4 


29 


44 


18 


21 


50 


" 


27 


31 


12 


10 


61 


62 


45 


47 


51 


" 


20 


14 


5 


3 


29 


28 


14 


10 


52 


" 


14 


15 


7 


11 


31 


47 


15 


14 


53 


" 


14 


22 


6 


3 


28 


26 


13 


16 


54 


" 


26 


14 


10 


9 


42 


39 


19 


18 


55 


" 


24 


15 


4 


5 


59 


38 


36 


26 


56 


" 


19 


16 


4 


6 


43 


24 


18 


16 


57 


(( 


14 


10 


10 


8 


31 


26 


13 


9 


58 


" 


21 


12 


4 


7 


37 


16 


16 


25 


59 


<( 


6 


9 


8 


5 


28 


10 


10 


8 


60 


" 


18 


19 


5 


5 


58 


42 


35 


24 


61 


" 


7 


12 


7 


6 


14 


18 


11 


11 


62 


" 


11 


9 


4 


8 


19 


26 


18 


12 


63 


<( 


7 


13 


6 


3 


25 


30 


17 


5 


64 


(1 


12 


13 


5 


2 


16 


22 


13 


10 


65 


(( 


13 


12 


6 


6 


38 


30 


14 


12 


66 


(1 


8 


10 


3 


2 


12 


23 


3 


12 


67 


(( 


11 


10 


2 


8 


21 


21 


12 


14 


68 


(( 


6 


7 


3 


4 


14 


21 


7 


6 


69 


" 


15 


6 


6 


2 


18 


13 


7 


6 


70 


(( 


13 


13 


5 


3 


25 


29 


18 


8 


71 


(( 


9 


9 


4 


4 


10 


8 


6 


9 


72 


<( 


5 


7 


5 


3 


12 


'8 


5 


15 


73 


(( 


7 


5 


4 


3 


14 


9 


6 


3 


74 


(( 


7 


6 


2 


2 


7 


12 


6 


8 


75 


(( 


8 


9 


1 


3 


20 


13 


2 


7 


76. 


" 


6 


7 


— 


3 


15 


9 


4 


— 


77 


" 


2 


4 


4 


1 


5 


11 


4 


— 


78 


11 


5 


4 


1 


5 


3 


7 


5 


3 


79 


(( 


— 


2 


— 


1 


7 


9 


4 


2 


80 


K 


f> 


5 


2 


1 


4 


12 


3 


4 


81 


" 


3 


1 


1 


1 


3 


— 


2 


') 


82 


1( 


4 


2 


3 


1 


1 


6 


3 


2 


83 


(( 


2 


1 


— 


— 


1 


5 


— 


1 


84 


(< 


2 


1 


1 


— 


4 


1 


2 


•) 


85 


(( 


— 


5 


— 


1 


— 


5 


— 


1 


86 


(> 


— 


1 


1 


— 


— 


— 


— 


1 


87 


(( 


— 


1 


1 


— 


— 


2 


1 


1 


88 


(( 


— 


2 


— 


— 


— 


3 


1 


— 


89 


" 


— 


— 


— 


1 


— 


1 


— 


— 


90 
92 
93 


11 


1 


1 


— 


1 


1 


1 


— 


2 


11 





1 




















APPENDIX 


■• 




Dl< 


Braintree. 


Holbrook. Qui 


ncy. I 


Randolph. 


(D 

Age. 1 1 
1 S 


to 

o 


Females. 
Males. 


S 
fa 


Males. 
Females. 


94 years, — — 


— 


— — 


1 


— — 


95 " - - 


— 


— — 


1 


— 1 


9(3 " - 1 


— 


— — 


— 




Unknowu, 5 7 


5 


9 11 


17 




Births for 1875:— 








Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 


Population— State Census, 


4156 


1726 


9155 


4064 


Whole number of births. 


92 


46 


243 


91 


Males, 


43 


24 


114 


49 


Females, 


49 


22 


129 


42 


American parents, 


55 


30 


96 


50 


Foreign parents, 


20 


12 


110 


27 


Am. fathers and foreign mother 


s, 5 


— 


10 


9 


Foreign fathers and Am. mothers, 11 


4 


26 


5 


Unknown, 


1 




1 




Marriages for 1875:— 












Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 


Number of couples. 


35 


8 


(35 


19 
13 


Americans, 


26 


7 


41 


Foreigners, 


6 


1 


14 


1 


Am. males and foreign females 


, — 


— 


4 


■^ 


Foreign males and Am. females, 3 


— 


6 


3 


Deaths for 1875:— 












Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 


Whole number of deaths. 


G3 


31 


164 


f ) 


Males, 


26 


15 


86 


32 


Females, 


37 


16 


78 


24 


Number whose ages are registered, G3 


31 


164 


56 


Aggregate age, 
Average age, 


2274 
35.53 


1021 
32.94 


4986 
30.40 


i;t95 
35.62 


Births for eleven years:— 








Braintree, 


Holbrook. 


Quincy, 


, Randolph 


Whole number of births. 


902 


173 


2138 


urA 


Males, 


477 


93 


1089 


75;> 


Females, 


481 


80 


1046 


700 


Unknown, 


4 


— 


3 


1 


Births to 100 persons living, 


2.11 


2.51 


2.12 


3.25 
31 


Persons living to one birth, 


47 


40 


47 


79 











618 


APPENDIX 


■• 






Marriages for eleven years :- 


- 




• 






Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 


Number of couples, 


313 


52 


669 


407 


Marriages to 100 persous liviug. 


.68 


.75 


.66 


.91 


Persons living to one marriage, 


146 


133 


151 


110 


Deaths for eleven years:— 












Braintree. 


Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 


Whole number of deaths, 


714 


lOG 


1501 


999 


Males, 


353 


■ 53 


797 


499 


Females, 


361 


53 


704 


496 


Unknown, 


— 


— 


— 


4 


Deaths to 100 persons living, 


1.56 


1.54 


1.49 


2.23 


Persons living to one death, 


64 


65 


67 


45 



Statistics of the four towns that formerly comprised the town of Braintree :— 
Population and sex, 1875 — 

Braintree. Holbrook. Quincy. Randolph. Total. 
Males, 1999 862 4598 2033 9492 

Females, 2157 864 4557 2031 9609 

Total, 4156 1726 9155 4064 19,101 



Polls and voters- 
Native voters, 829 391 1548 816 3584 
Naturalized voters, 176 37 428 243 884 



Total, 1005 428 


1976 


1059 


4468 


Ratable polls, 1190 509 


2569 


1185 


5453 


Families and dwelling-houses, 1875— 








Braintree. Holbrook. 


Quincy. 


Randolph. 


Total. 


Dwellings occupied, 728 327 


1507 


724 


3386 


Dwellings unoccupied, 20 2 


27 


28 


77 



Total, 
Families, 



748 
929 



Size of families- 
1 2 



Braintree, 
Holbrook, 
Quincy, 
Randolph, 



24 158 168 177 
8 90 80 80 



146 
69 



329 
411 



98 
29 



1534 
1941 



893 



3363 
4174 



79 30 22 13 
22 11 11 5 



9 10 11 12 13 14 
8 — 1 



16 



4 2 — — 



50 276 359 361 328 214 147 98 40 34 



17 10 



14 2 

2 1 



25 156 157 161 143 99 57 36 
The numerals at the head of the columns indicate the number of persons in 
each family, the last column having 16 and over in each family. 



APPENDIX. 



619 



Value of real and personal estate in 1878: 



Personal estate, 
Keal estate, 

Total. 



Braintrce. Holbrook. Qnincy. Randolph. Total. 

$837,275 Sl8,5,7r)0 $1,707,290 $(i4C,120 $3,370,435 

2,115,075 809,845 5,740,200 1,461,3.30 13,127,050 

.$2^52"^ $995,595 $7,447,490 $2,107,450 $16,503,485 



Horses, Cows, &c. 
Horses, 
Cows, 
Sheep, 

Acres of taxable land. 
Dwelling Houses, 



1878— 

309 

398 

28 

8107 

813 



170 
160 



4370 
447 



050 
549 

8070 
1,698 



318 
261 



5802 
700 



Conjugal condition — 

Single ISIales, 

" Females, 
Married Males, 

" Females, 
Widowed Males, 

" Females, 
Divorced Males, 

" Females, 



Braintree. 

1088 

1173 

818 

811 

85 

]08 

8 



Holbrook. 
449 
413 
380 
393 

27 

57 



Qnincy. 

2729 

24."9 

1747 

1735 

118 

371 

4 

12 



1.519 

l.T)8 

28 

20,955 

2,418 

Randolph. 

1148 

1000 

810 

810 

66 

153 

9 



Number of schools, expense, attendance, &c. :— 

1838-9 * Braintree. Quincy. Randolph. 

Valuation, $308,749.14 $528,891.25 $419,012..'-.O 

Sum raised by tax for support of schools. 



1,000.00 



No. scholars in the public schools, (summer), 
<i " " (winter), 

Av. attendance in the " (summer), 

<< " " (winter), 

No. children between 4 and 10 years of age. 

No. male teachers (summer), 
" " (winter), 

No. female teachers (summer), 
«' " (winter). 

No. public schools, 



411 
421 
291 
307 
545 

7 
9 

1 

7 



2,200.00 
753 



1,800.00 
044 



550 
490 
417 
820 
4 



10 



620 

488 

458 

840 

2 

9 
9 



* It was about this period tliat Horace Mann began his noble effort to bnng 
method out of chaos in the public schools of the State, which linally resulted so favor- 
ably to the great advancement of e.lucation, and the Hrst report of the State Board of 
Education was issued. We give here a list of text hooks used in the schools of Qun.cy 
in 1838, which illustrates the course of studies pursued in our schools :- 

Child's Conipaniou, National Spelling Book, Worcester's and Walker's Dictiouanes, 
Bible Emerson's 1st, 2d and .'id Class Books, National Header, Pierpont's First Class 
Book Parker and Fox's Grammar, Peter Parley's Geography, Olney's do. and Atlas, 
Arithmetics, North American 1st, 2d and 3d parts, and Adam's, Bailey's Algebra. 



620 



APPENDIX. 



1847-8. 



Braintree. 



Valuation, $531,786.00 

Sura raised by tax for support of schools, 2,000.00 
Appropriation for each child between 4 and 

10 years of age, 3.02 

No. scholars in the imblic schools (summer), 511 

" " " (winter), 536 

Av. attendance in the " (summer), 369 

(winter), 422 

No. children between 4 and 16 years of age, 603 

No. male teachers (summer), — 

" " (winter), 9 

No. female teachers (summer), 11 

" " (winter), 1 

No. public schools, 11 



1857-8. 



Braintree. 



Valuation in 1860, $1,054,783.30 

Sum raised by tax for support of schools, 3,000.00 
Appropriation for each child between 5 and 

15 years of age, 5.093 

No. scholars in the public schools (summer), 628 

" " " (winter), 629 

Av. attendance in the " (summer), 458 

" " " (winter), 511 

No. children between 5 and 15 years of age, 648 

No. male teachers (summer), — 

" " (winter), 5 

No. female teachers (summer), 12 

" " (winter), 8 

No. public schools, 13 

1807-8. Braintree. 

Valuation, $1,582,530.00 

Sum raised by tax for support of schools. 5,000.00 
Appropriation for each child between 5 and 

15 years of age, 5.917 

No. scholars in the public schools (summer), 752 

" " " (winter), 680 

Av. attendance in the " (summer), 594 

" " " (winter), 556 

No. children between 5 and 15 years of age, 845 

No. male teachers (summer), 1 

" " (winter), 3 

No. female teachers (summer), 17 

" " (winter), 13 

No. public schools, 17 



Quincy. 

$912,105.00 
3,330.00 

3.08 

1016 

975 

689 

686 

1082 

6 

6 

7 

7 

13 

Quincy. 

$2,085,625.38 ^ 
8,585.00 

6.543 

1200 

1225 

997 

1013 

1312 

7 

6 

14 

15 

20 



Randolph. 

$787,015.00 
2,000.00 

2.03 

781 

623 

506 

558 

984 

1 

7 

11 

3 

13 

Eandolph, 

^,663,428.25 
4,200.00 

3.497 

1015 

989 

742 

809 

1213 

1 

10 

18 

10 

19 



Quincy. Eandolph. 

5,833,508.00 $2,925,254.00 
16,558.53 10,000.00 



10.704 

1548 

1507 

1191 

1210 

1534 

6 

6 

25 

25 

25 



0.775 

1242 

1176 

1050 

942 

1476 

4 

4 

21 

21 



APPENDIX. 621 



BRAINTREE. 1876-7.* 



Valuation in 187G, §2,844,;J50 

Sum raised by tax for schools, including wages of teachers, board, 

fuel and care of fires and school-room , G HOO 
Appropriation for each child between 5 and 15 years of age, SiMo'J 

No. scholars in the public schools during the year, 72.J 

Av. attendance in the " " 52(j 

No. children " " between 5 and 15 years of age, 741 

No. of different female teachers employed during the year, 19 

" " male " " " o 

No. public schools, Kj 

HOLBROOK (formerly East Randolph). 1876-7. 

Valuation, $940,300 
Sum raised by tax for schools, including wages of teachers, board, 

fuel and care of fires and school-room, 5 qoo 
Appropriation for each child between 5 and 15 years of age, $13.63 

No. scholars in the public schools during the year, .S02 

Av. attendance in the " " ,-501 

No. children " " between 5 and 15 years of age, 378 

No. of different female teachers employed during the year, 12 

" " male *' " " 2 

No. public schools, 3 

QUINCY. 1876-7. 
Valuation, §7,533,145 

Sum raised by tax for schools, including wages of teachers, board, 

fuel and care of fires and school-room, 25,000 
Appropriation for each child between 5 and 15 years of age, $14.97 

No. scholars in the public schools during the year, 1784 

Av. attendance in the " " 1401 

No. children *' " between 5 and 15 years of age, 1G70 

No. of different female teachers employed during the year, 38 

male " " " 7 

No. public schools, 35 

RANDOLPH. 1876-7, 
Valuation, $2,104,510 

Sum raised by tax for schools, including wages of teachers, board, 

fuel and care of fires and school-room, 8,()(X) 
Appropriation for each child between 5 and 15 years of age, $10,617 

No. scholars in the public schools during the year, 7 is 

Av. attendance in the " " 5(17 

No. of different female teachers employed during the year, 15 

" " male '^ " " 2 

No. public schools, 17 

* In this decade the table for summer and winter 8clioola i.s omitted. As Uiey, 
for the tirst time since these educational histitutions were established in Colonial times, 
were all emerged into yearly, instead of six munths scliools. Altliough for years previ- 
ous many of the cities and towns had sustained yearly schools. 



622 



APPENDIX. 



Illiterates in 1875 :- 



Braintree. Holbrook. 



Quincy. 



Randolph. 



M - 



12; fM H 



> -^ 'Zi 



Males 10 to 15 years, 


2 2 


4 


— 


1 


1 


8 1 


9 


6 


— 


6 


Females " " 


2 


2 


— 


— 


— 


8 7 


15 


o 


— 


o 


Males 16 to 19 years, 


1 3 


4 


— 


1 


1 


— 5 


5 


— 


2 


o 


Females " " 


2 2 


4 


— 


— 


— 


1 8 


9 


2 


— 


2 


Males 20 and 21 years, 


— — 


— 


— 


— 


-^ 


1 7 


8 


2 


1 


3 


Females " " 


2 


2 


— 


— 


— 


2 2 


4 


— 


— 


— 


Males abov^e 21 years, 


G 67 


73 


1 


23 


24 


19 198 


217 


9 


55 


64 


Females " " 


8 121 


129 


— 


12 


12 


12 300 


312 


3 107 


110 


Total illiterates, 


21 197 


218 


1 


37 


38 


51 528 


579 


24 165 


189 


Cannot read. 


— — 


— 


— 


— 


— 


1 2 


3 


— 


— 


— 


Cannot write. 


10 49 


59 


— 


4 


4 


23 109 


132 


15 


GO 


75 


Cannot read nor write. 


11 148 


159 


1 


33 


34 


27 417 


444 


9 105 


114 



£ 


s. 


D. 


12 


9 


4 


3 


7 


8 


15 


17 






It may be of interest to many to know the method by which the taxes were 
assessed at the organization of the town, as well as to ascertain its value at that 
period. For this reason we have given the official from the original tax-book. 

It appears that the system adopted by the Selectmen and Assessors of the 
town of Quincy at the separation in 1792, in assessing the town tax was based 
on an extreme undervaluation, as will appear from the following official state- 
ment, viz: — 



Whole amount of real estate in the town as apprized by 

the Assessors, was 
Amount of personal estate, 



Total 
"Whole number of polls, 192. 

The relative largest amount of money received by taxation for town expenses 
was collected from the poll taxes, which was seven shillings and six pence per 
head. It also apj^ears that one-half mill on a dollar was the basis upon which 
the taxes were assessed. The star (*) indicates the persons upon whom only 
a poll tax was assessed; the dagger (f) denotes the iiayment of two poll taxes; 
a double dagger (|) iudicates the payment of three poll taxes. This was in ac- 
cordance with the custom of that day in assessing the polls of male servants, or 
farm hands, to their masters or principals, who were obliged to pay them. This 
control of masters over their servants was the last relics of feudalism, which 
rapidly disappeared before the refulgent rays of the sun of civilization, and 
manhood assumed its supremacy. 



APPENDIX. 








o»s 




Tax on 


Tax 


on 


Value of 


Value of 


Names. ' 


Real 


Personal 


Real 


Pei-sonal 




Estate. 


Estate. 


Kstatc. 


Estate. 




s. D. 


S. D. 


£ S. D. 


£ 8. D, 


Hon. John Adams, 


9 G 





3 


8 G 9 


4 5 


Peter B. Adams, Esq., 


3 () 


2 


(i 


3 1 G 


2 3 11 


Ditto for Paul Baxter's place, 


1 








17 7 





Boylstou Adams,* 












James Aptliorp, 


9 





<) 


13 2 


2 11 


Widow Grezzill Apthorp, 


1 G 








1 G 4 





Ebenezer Adams, 


5 





4 


7 4 


5 10 


Josiah Adams, 


8 





4 


11 8 


r, 10 


Heirs of Dea. Ebenezer Adams, 


2 6 





3 


2 3 10 


4 5 


William Adams, 


3 3 





4 


2 17 1 


5 10 


Peter Adams, 


1 7 





3 


1 7 10 


4 5 


Macajah Adams, 











1 G 





Jedediah Adams, 


1 





2 


17 7 


2 11 


•Joseph Neal Arnold, 


1 9 





3 


1 10 9 


4 5 


Daniel Arnold, 








5 





7 4 


Deacon Benjamin Bass, J 


2 1 





2 


1 IG 7 


2 11 


John Bass,* 












Ensign Samuel Bass, 


3 





3 


2 12 8 


4 5 


Joseph Bass, 2d,t 












Jonathan Bass,t 


9 





1 


13 2 


1 G 


Seth Bass,* 












Lieut. Samuel Bass, 


5 








7 4 





Moses Black, 


12 


10 


10 10 8 


14 8 


Capt. Joseph Baxter, t 


4 8 


1 


G 


4 1 11 


14 8 


Lieut. Jonathan Baxter, | 


2 4 





G 


2 10 


8 9 


Ditto for John HoUis' place. 


9 








13 2 





Capt. Thompson Baxter, t 


3 3 








2 17 1 


7 G 


Edward W. Baxter, t 


1 3 





2 


1 1 11 


2 11 


Capt. Daniel Baxter, 


5 


1 





4 7 10 


17 7 


Hannah Baxter, 


8 








11 8 





Capt. Benjamin Beale, 


10 





G 


8 15 7 


8 9 


Benjamin Beale, Esq., 


12 


10 


7 


10 10 8 


15 10 


Joseph Beale, 


2 10 





3 


2 9 9 


4 5 


David Bass, 


1 





1 


17 7 


1 G 


Nathaniel Beale, 








2 





2 11 


Jonathan Beale,* 












Ditto for Grendal Ftawson's place, 


5 








7 4 





John Billings,! 


3 





3 


2 12 8 


5 10 


Col. Edmund Billings, t 


4 





G 


3 10 3 


8 9 


Ditto for Benjamin Billings, Esq., 


8 








11 8 





Edmund Billings, Jr.,* 












Nedibiah Bent, t 


11 





2 


IG 1 


2 11 


Frederick Billings,* 












James Baxter— a negro,* 












Capt. Moses Brackett, 


2 2 





9 


1 18 1 


13 2 



624 



APPENDIX. 



Names. 

Moses Brackett, Jr. ,* 

Lieut. Peter Brackett, 

Ditto for ^ of his father's farm, 

"Widow Mary Brackett, 

James Brackett,! 

Ditto for Veseyand Domett's land, 

James Brackett, Jr., 

Capt. Joseph Brackett, t 

Ebeuezer Brackett, 

Capt. Samuel Brown, f 

Lieut. Peter Bicknell, 

Jjemuel Badcock, 

Lemuel Billings, 

Ditto for Benjamin Beal's farm, 

Seth Burrell,t 

Josiah Bass,* 

Peter Burrell, 

"William Baxter, 

Bichard Cranch, Esq., 

Capt. James Clark, t 

Alpheus Carey, 

Ditto for Virchild lands, 

Joseph Cleverly, 2d,t 

Benjamin Cleverly, 2d,* 

Henry Cleverly,* 

Thomas Cleverly, 

Jonathan Cleverly,* 

John Cleverly, 

Leonard Cleverly,* 

Thomas Cleverly, Jr.,}: 

Ditto for Charles Newcomb's land, 

Joseph Cleverly, Jr.,* 

Eben Crane,* 

Nedde Curtis,* 

Samuel Copeland,* 

Daniel Crane,* 

"William Chandler, 

Eliphalet Chandler, 

Thomas Cook,* 

William Coze, 

John Copeland,* 

James Dorren,* 

Lemuel Dwelle,* 

John Dill,* 

James Faxon, Jr., 



Tax on 

Real 
Estate. 


Tax on 
Personal 
Estate. 


Value of 

Real 

Estate. 


Value of 
Personal 
. Estate. 


s. 


D. 


s. 


D. 


£ 


S. D. 


£ 


S. D. 





8 








11 8 








o 


2 





6 


1 


18 1 





8 9 





5 











7 4 








G 


4 


2 


JO 


5 11 2 


2 


9 9 





4 











5 10 

















2 





0^ 





2 11 


1 


8 





3 


1 


9 3 





4 5 








2 











1 15 1 


1 


3 





G 


1 


1 11 





8 9 


5 


G 


1 


9 


4 16 7 


1 


10 9 





G 





3 





8 9 





4 5 





8 





4 





11 8 





5 10 


3 











2 


12 8 











2 





1 





2 11 





1 6 





G 





1 





8 9 





1 G 





G 





6 





8 9 





8 9 


2 


8 


o 


2 


2 


6 10 


1 


18 1 


3 


4 





4 


2 


18 6 





5 10 


8 


1 





4 


7 


2 





5 10 





G 











8 9 








2 


3 





2 


1 


19 6 





2 11 





4 











5 10 








1 


3 





10 


1 


1 11 


14 8 





4 





2 





5 10 





2 11 





4 











5 10 









3 





4 5 





1 





1 G 














2 



3 











2 11 



4 



Names. 

Ditto for Virchild's Pasture, 

Ditto for John Adams' Farm, 

"William Field, 

Jackson Field, 

Eben. Field, 

Beiijaniiii Field, 

Joseph Field, t 

Ditto for Penniman's Place, 

Samuel Field,* 

James Field, 

Jacob Fowle,* 

William Glover, 

Capt. Elisba G lover, t 

Josiab Glover, 

]Satliai)iel Glover, 

Eben Glover, f 

John Glover,* 

Henry Turner Gay, 

Ebeuezer Vesey Gay,* 

John Hall.t 

Frederick Hartwick, 

Heury Hartwick, 

Frederick Hartwick, Jr., 

Ditto fur Dormit's Place, 

Peter Hartwick,! 

Charles Hartwick,* 

Caleb Hayden, 

Abel Hayden, 

Nathaniel Hayden, 2d,* 

Luke Hurd,* 

Sanmel Hobart, 

Joseph Hunt, 

Anthony Hunt, 

Enoch Horton, 

Thomas Haskell,* 

John Hutchiugs,* 

James Hay ward, 

I'eter Hobart,* 

Seth Joist,* 

William Jenkins,* 

Ebenezer ^liller, E.sq., 

Wilson Marsh, Jr., 

Jonathan Marsh, t 
George Mears, 
William Pierce Meade, 

80 



APPENDIX. 








vzo 


Tax on 
Real 

Estate. 


Tax on 

Personal 

Estate. 


Value of 
Real 
Estate. 


Value of 

Personal 

Estate. 


s. 


D. 


S. 


D. 


£ S. D. 


£ S. D. 





5 








7 4 





7 








9 


G 2 11 


13 2 


1 


9 








1 10 9 








9 





2 


13 2 


2 11 





5 





1 


7 4 


1 G 





3 





1 


4 5 


1 G 


2 


9 





i> 


2 8 3 


2 11 





4 








5 10 






1 



8 



3 







2 



1 



1 t) 



11 8 



4 







6 


8 





4 


G 14 


7 


5 10 


1 








8 


17 


7 


11 9 


1 


4 





3 


1 3 


5 


4 5 











5 








7 4 


3 


G 





9 


3 1 


G 


13 2 



11 



4 








4 


3 


10 3 





5 10 











G 











8 9 





5 











7 4 











5 











7 4 











G 











8 9 











2 





1 





2 11 





1 6 





1 





1 





1 G 





1 G 





2 











2 11 











1 





'> 





1 G 





2 11 


1 


G 





4 


1 


G 4 





5 10 





3 





1 





4 5 





1 G 











2 











2 11 



16 



1 


8 





3 


1 9 3 





4 7 





G 





1 


S 9 





1 G 


1 








2 


17 7 





2 11 





4 








5 10 

















2 








2 11 



OJit) 


APPENDIX. 










Names. 


Tax on 

Keal 
Estate. 


Tax on 

Personal 

Estate. 


Value of 
Real 

Estate. 


Value of 
Per.sonal 

Estate. 




s. 


D. 


s. 


D. 


£, S. D. 


£ s. D. 


Richard Newcomb, 





4 





1 


5 10 


16 


Charles Newcomb, 





6 





6 


8 9 


8 9 


John Newcomb, 


10 





3 


14 8 


4 5 


Ebenezer Newcomb, Jr.,* 














John Ruggles Newcomb, 





1 








16 


2 11 


Josei^h Nightingale,! 





1 





2 


16 


2 11 


Samuel Nightingale, 





6 





2 


8 9 


2 11 


Ensign John Nightingale, 





10 





2 


14 8 


2 11 


Ebenezer Nightingale, 





7 





2 


10 3 


2 11 


Samuel Nightingale, 2d,* 














Ruggles Nightingale,* 














Dr. Thomas Phipps, 


1 


4 





9 


13 5 


13 2 


Thomas Pratt,! 


1 


2 





5 


10 6 


7 4 


John Pray, J 





9 





3 


13 2 


4 5 


John Pope,* 














Benjamin Pray, t 





5 





1 


7 4 


16 


Josiah Pratt, 





1 








16 





Norton Quiucy, 


13 


6 


o' 


10 


11 8 3 


14 8 


Widow Ann Quincy, 








2 








1 15 1 


Ditto for Woodland, 


1 











17 7 





Jonathan Rawsou, 


2 


4 





3 


2 10 


4 5 


William Spear, t 


1 


2 





2 


10 6 


2 11 


Lieut. Seth Spear, f 


i 


ti 


1 


4 


3 19 


13 5 


Daniel Spear, 














Zeb SpeaT,* 














John Sanders, 





9 





3 


13 2 


4 5 


William Sanders, 





5 





2 


7 4 


2 11 


Benjamin Sanders,* 














Benjamin Savill, 





5 





2 


7 4 


2 11 


Samuel Savill, 2d,* 














Ditto for John Bright's Farm, 


20 








3 


1 15 1 


4 5 


Barnabas Swift at Bickuell's,* 














Elisha Turner,* 














Joseph Tirrell, Jr.,* 














Nathan Tirrell,* 














Ditto for Dr. Greenleaf 's place. 


1 10 





3 


1 12 2 


4 6 


Josiah V^esey,* 














William Vesey, 





2 








13 2 





Widow Sarah Vesey, 





6 











8 9 


Lieut. Elijah Vesey, Jr., 


1 


7 


10 


1 7 10 


14 8 


Widow Mary Vesey, 


13 





1 


1 1 11 


16 


Ebenezer Vesey,* 














Mottram Vesey,* 














Deacon Jonathan Webb, 


2 


6 


6 


G 


2 3 11 


5 14 1 



Thomas Welch.* Lemuel Withington.* 



APPENDIX. 



627 



Non-resident tax-payers who resided in the town of Braintree:— 



Names. 


No. of Acres. 


Value. 


Tax. 






£ 


S. D. 


£ S. D. 


Ehenezer Thayer, Esq., 


38 





7 4 


5 


Caleb Hobart, 


13 





4 5 


3 


Adam Hobart, 


7 





2 11 


2 


Joshua Hobart, 


u 





1 6 


1 


Samuel Curtis, 


11 





2 11 


2 


Adam Curtis, 


IJ 





1 6 


1 


Gedeon Thayer, 


4 





4 5 


3 


Richard Thayer, 


2 





2 11 


2 


Benjamin Thayer, 


2 





2 11 


2 


Simeon Thayer, 


U 





1 (J 


1 


Abraham Thayer, 


3 





2 11 


2 


Levi Wild, 


3 





2 11 


2 


Gen. Ebenezer Thayer, Jr., Esq., 


26 





8 9 


G 


Elkana Thayer, 


30 


10 3 


7 


Ditto as guardian of Anon Hayden' 


s children, 2 





1 G 


1 


Asaph Faxon, 


2 





2 11 


2 


Jo.seph Spear, 


9 





5 10 


4 


Seth Turner, Jr., 


40 


13 2 


9 


James Holbrook, 


2 





1 G 


1 


Dr. Ephraim "Wales, 


2 





2 11 


2 


Joseph White, Jr., 


3 





4 5 


3 


INIajor Benjamin Hayden, 


17 





5 10 


4 


Solomon White, 


2 





2 11 


2 


Widow Mary Holbrook, 


2 





1 6 


1 


James Holbrook, 


2 





1 G 


1 


JNIoses Holbrook, 


2 





1 6 


1 


Capt. Nehemiah Holbrook, 


2 





1 G 


1 


Heirs of Ichabod Holbrook, 


3 





2 11 


2 


Capt. Thomas Hollis, Jr., 


3 





2 11 


2 


Ensi;:;n John Hollis, 


10 





8 9 


G 


Samuel Bass, Esq., 


6 





5 10 


4 


Jonathan Holbrook, 


2 





1 fi 


1 


vJHeirs of Capt. Xathauiel Belcher, 
Samuel Belcher, 


2 





1 6 


1 


2 





1 G 


1 


Hobart Clark, 


2i 





2 11 


2 


Major John Holbrook, 


2 





1 G 


1 


Reuben (or Rufus) Thayer, 


2 





1 G 


1 


■^ Thomas Penninian, Esq., 


3 





2 11 


2 


V Major Stephen Penniman, 


2 





1 G 


1 


Deacon Samuel Holbrook, 


3 





2 11 


2 


Lemuel Vesey, 


3 





3 


2 


Ebenezer Newcomb, 


3 





2 11 


2 


Deacon JNIoses French, 


6 





5 10 


4 


Benjamin White, 


2 





1 6 


1 



('.lis 



Al 



NMi.K-r.. 

("itpl. SiliiM Willi, 
.loniillmn Wild, 
A/,i«iiiili l''i(Xt)ii, 

('ill»<l> 1''!1X'I11, 

Williiini llowililoh, 
/.ju'limiiili M. 'I'liiiycr, 
W'illiMni lliniuiiu, 
( ':i|il .liiini'.s It'Mxon, 
1 'Miiii'l I .oriiij', 

InliMlillMtits of IMiiliin 

I'lihvar.l II ludiliiiiM, \<)hi\., I'nr l>r. 

ItllVVNon'M lloil'M, 
lloii'M III' I.IUK'cloll. I'oltVO, 

W llliiiin IViiv. 
<'!i|)(. Willliiiii I'cir.'o, 
l.liMil, ClimloM I'rlrro. 
l,«imiol I »iivls I'l'liiT, 
SiiiiiiK'l \'iim> iitiil \\'m(1'i\\ (Hill, 

('ill. I'llirllr/lT W'iliilUlIM, 

llotir.v Sinilli, 
iMiint" 'riinlii'V, 
li'.dwiinl II. Iv'ohliliiM, I'Inii,, ImmiuIiI <• 

.spraniio iiuil Mr. hnwtM'N, 
lloli'M ol' .loNHKiiliili iSiiiniHir, 
llnliH 111' ('ill. Willliim 'Pii.vliir, 

lli'll;< ul MilhldllilK ('lll(<l', 
( ':i{il .liiliii ltll)',^;lo^|, 
lliMi.M ol .\iuMriiili llhiKo, 
W i.low 'riiiiiilil'iil I'lli'li.-r, 

( 'ill. .IllNllpIl \'0MI<, 
.llM'iMlllllll 'rUl'klM', 

KiiaIiI 'I'licUof, 
Hiiiimrl 'riii'liiT, 
I'udli'U .Ii-Il'(>r.v, 

HoiiIk'mIoi' Ciipl. Olivi'i lUlliiiKM, 
lOiMicli (lliivor, 
lloliN 111' l'',/,ni i ilii\oi-, 
■''aioM Hhilio, 
.loNHI' l''i>imii, 
Mliimi'/oi' lliilnir, 
ll«niiii'il ('iipmi, 

ItoMluii SiimiiiM \\'<<IIm, 

1 t| , .lnini',< I'orKor, 

Hlini'-'lilon llohn ol Cupl, NmIIiiiiiIoI 



IMONPIX. 

No, of A. Ml 

ft 
• I 

'J 

4 

4 

107 

in 

2() 
2 



Mlliiil 





lllll 

N. 
•1 
1 
1 
1 

IM 


11, 

(1 
(> 

II 
1) 
1 1 
1 1 
II 



Tax, 

V M. II. 

:t 
I 
I 



I I 



-J 





'M ( 


1 ** 


-1 ( 


) ft 




m < 

• 

10 


1 Id 
1 1 


1 ( 


10 11 

» .'1 




3 ( 


1 1 


(i ( 


) (1 1 




I'fl 1 


1 ,s 


!l ( 


1 li 




Ifl ( 


1 1 


i. ( 


1 D :i 




IH ( 


> ■.' 


II ( 


1 (1 •^ 




!«) ( 


1 ,s 


I 


) (1 


1 ll- 


100 

l,% ( 


'' 


10 ( 

1 1 1 


> 1 '.' 

1 D -J 


1 ' 1 , 


"(Ml t 


1 I" 


1 t 


1 1 ;< 




II ( 


1 1 


( 


1 D :i 




(10 ( 


) n; 


1 ( 


1 D II 




20 t 


> ■,• 


II ( 


1 -J 




II ( 

1'.! t 


1 1 
t 1 


ft ( 


1 D :i 
> :i 




ilO ( 


> s 


( 


) ll 




m i 


1 Id 


:i ( 


1 ',' 




HO < 


1 ,s 


t 


1 D ll 




21 < 


) 1 


1 ( 


1 (1 ;t 




'20 ( 


» ri 


10 ( 


1 D 1 




no t 


) i:i 


'.', ( 


1 '.1 




'.!(> ( 


) 10 


:t 1 


) 7 




"0 ( 


• i< 


HI ( 


1 ,| 




ID ( 




II < 


1 D 'J 




10 t 


1 ••' 


1 1 ( 


1 (1 'J 




111 1 


' 1 


1 ( 


1 ft 




!in < 


1 ,<i 


11 ( 


1 D li 




20 ( 


• r> 


ID ( 


1 D 1 




30 . 


1 H 


;i ( 


1 D li 




20 • 


1 1 


ft ( 


1 ;i 


Will. 


■1. fi ( 


1 


ft ( 


.'1 



APPWNDIX. 



029 



Niiiuos. 



AVtWrnoutli ('iii>t. .liuiu's ^Vllill^ 
Ki.'lKiiil TIkim'v, 



No. of Al-H'H. Viilu.'. 'I'lix. 

i; w. II. C s. I). 

2 1 f, 1 

2 I f. <t I' > 

•JOO 17 -J '> I " 

K1?F,NF/KK MIM.KU, ) Si-UMtinoii 

1'.FNM.\M1N UKALH, ) A.ssossora. 



BANTaN(^, INSTITUTIONS. 



The first bank of drculation aiu1 .1opo..it was ostal.li.><laMl in .>.nuo.v, m, IM.. 
.uul oalU.l tlu> (Jninoy Ston. Ua.U. It wus a Stuto bunU. ov,an>ml .nul.r the 
State l-ankin, bnvs, with a .aintal of .*100.0<H^ and aftorwur.ls nu-roasod to 
^150 my in 1S.U. tho hank puc up its Stato .•harlor. and honuno a national 
liank undortho Unito.l States .statute, and was oalle.l the National (.nunto 
Bank, nn.ler which .s.v.sten, and nanu, it eontinnes still to tvansae Us husnu s.,. 

The Mount Wollft.ston Hank went into operati..n in lKr>:l, with a ea,nla of 

^m m, ana subsequently eular.HHl it to Sir.(>..H.O. This hank was also estah- 

UshoaasaStaU>bank,an.l about lS(i4 a.loptea the national svston.. an.l was 

calle.1 the National Mount ^Volla.st,on Bank. r «,oo ,hv> Uum 

,,,„, ,,„,,,lph Uank was ehartenul in ISIV.. with a eap.tal of .1:1.H . H. , Uu 

ness haa b. u,e so prosperous that an aaaUional ^-^'^:^^'':^:^^ 

orioinal capital, which has still further been u.crea.sea t,. .K.H^.tHK). Ih 8 hank 
: ; securea the beneHts of the national n.etho.l of baukin. in 18.V . ajul^na.. 
it. or.ani.ea as a national hank, called the Nationa 1^-;^"' » .^^'^ ;• ^ ' 
,.;« been a ren.arkably prosperous and suc.essful banku., n.st.tut.ou. lun .n. a 

surnlus of .S'JtXl.tXIO. ... , • 

The Union Bank of Weynu.uth ana Braintree also transacts hanku., busi- 
ness with a capital of »150.00(). ana was institntea as a nn.tual hauk,n>; insti- 
tution between the two towns of ^Vey mouth ana Brau.tree. , „ ,, . 
The Quincv Savings Uank was estahlishea in IS-l... The business of the bank 
.r t hst c uriea on in Mr. ..osiah Uri.hanis store on llane..ek street from 
^ once it was transferrea to the Qnincy Stone Uank. now the Natnu.al .Iranite 
Bank After bavin,, for a .series of years, transaetea its business here in con- 
W on with this baiac. it was ti.ially removea to S4 Hancock street, where it is 
rrsueccssfully n.ana.ea as a aistinct institution, unaer a .separate treasurer. 
In1S77,itsamountof aepo.sit wasSl.'JSr.,!iHi.'.H.. 

The Hanaolph Savings Hank was incorporatea in Apnl. is..., and is U.catea 
i„ the same room with the National Uandolph Hank, both bein. ... the t.ne 
Turner Stone Library Uuildin,'. Amount of aepos.t ... IH.N b>i\mi 

;,. nrai....ee Savings Hank was incorporated March ^'-. ^f ^ J^^'; -^ "^ 
corporators, twenty-two. A...ount of .leposits ... .lan..ary. 1«. . •^^''•'^"'^ •'• 

T,.e C^lnincv Motual LMre lns..ra..ce Co.npany was or«a.....ea ... Mar h. IS . 
a..a ha.s t.a..s.unea a la.^e a.ul aavauta.eous business. Us ea.sh (una .Ian. l.t. 
1S7S, was s«i:«U,llti-5S. Surph.s over re-i.isura.ice, •> 103,3.0.00. 



EREATA. 



Page 8, 13th line,— for Sept., 1G31, read Dec, 1630; Gth line from bottom,— for 

1G34 rea.l 1G37. 
" 14, 1st line, — for tenth read eleventh. 
" 23, 22d line,— for 13th read 18th. 

" 38, last line of note should read, division of 3000 acres. 
" 47, The words "Josiah alias Wampatuck, his 10 marke, his seale," 

should be taken from the bottom of the left-hand column of note, 

and placed at the top of the ri^lit-hand column, he being the 

principal and not a witness. 
" 61, 3d line, — for twenty-third read twenty-second. 
" 69, 2d line of note, — for Capt. read Captains. 
" 70, 23d line of note, — for Luchas read Lusher. 
" 71, 1st line of note, — for 1836 read 1837-8. 
" 73, last line,— for 1641, 10th, read 1645, 11th. 
" 74, 1st line,— for 19th read 11th. 
" 75, 5th line, — for 1840 read 1841; 12th line, — after the word organization 

read provided !8>650 is subscribed. 
" 76, 18th line,— for 1870 read 1869. 

" 82, 3d line from bottom, — the word James should precede IMadison. 
" 85, 10th line from bottom, — for Thomas B. read Peter Boylstou. 
" 86, 2d line, — for stileworks read slitvvork. 

" 88, 2d line,— for Jesse read Joseph; 5th line,— for Samuel read Lemuel. 
" 89, 19th line, — for Feb. 12th read Jan. 25th; 23d line, — for Sanmel read 

Lemuel. 
" 91, 9th line, — for Moses read Benjamin. 
" 92, 1st line, — for new read old. 
" 95, 11th line from bottom, — for 6th read 3d. 
" 96, Gth line,— for 50 read 58; 12th line,- for March 7th read April 4th; 

13th line, — for 7500 weight read .seventy-five weight. 
" 99, 8tli line from bottom,— for 1809 read 1811; 4th line from bottom,— 

before word voted, prefix date of April 2d, 1810. 
" 100, 17th line,— for May 3d read Feb. 10th; 23d line,— before word voted, 

prefix date of June 28lh. 
" 103, 18th line,— the words " their Agent for his valuable services " should 

read, the agents for their valuable services without compensation; 

24th line, — for April read ^lay 5th. 
" 105, 19th line, — for Haudeyside read Handa.sydo. 
" 107, 16th line,— for May 3d, 1K41, read March 5tli, 1839; 27th line,— the 

name Josiah Bri^'liam should follow that of William B. Uuggau; 

29th line, — for March read May. 



632 EEKATA, 

Page 108, loth line,— before words " They decided " prefix date of April 1st. 
114, 2d line, — for Fairfield's read Marshall's. 
118, 2d and 3d lines from bottom,— for 1690-91 read 1696-7. 
142, 4th line in epitaph, — for Unper read Nuper. 
147, 19th line, — for top read base. 

174, 2d line from bottom of note,— after Samuel Savil add "to 1824." 

175, last line of text,— for 12th read 10th. 
191, 7th line, — for ninth read tenth. 
193, 2d line from bottom of text,— for 16th read 17th. 
200, 2d line, — for Luther read Lusher. 
222, 1st line of note,— for Dr. Marsh read Dr. Morse. 
232, The second paragraph on this page should be transferred to the top 

of page 234. 
247, Stli line, — for Denniman read Penniman. 

261, 9th line,— for first read second, as the Rev. Peter Whitney was Eep- 
resentative in 1825. Whitney and Gregory are the only two clergy- 
men who have represented the town in the State Legislature since 
its separation. 

262, 20th line,— for construct read complete; same line,— after the word 
parsonage add (which had been commenced in 1871). 

269, 4th line, — for John read Samuel. 

277, 25th line,^for James read William James. 

319, 22d line,— for 1678 read 1678-9. 

322, last line, — for uneasy read weary. 

329, 3d line,— for April 11th read Jan. 14th. 

330, 4th line,— for Dec. 8th read Nov. 7th; 13th line,— for 1817 read 1816; 
for 1841 read 1842. 

335, 24th line,- for 12th read 26th. 

342, 17th line, — for Continental read Provincial. 

348, 10th line, — for nineteen read seventeen. 

394, 3d Hue,— for May 24th read May 21st; 15th line,— the words " with 
six port holes" should follow the word sloop in the line above. 

410, 9th line from bottom of text, — for Edward Willard, Josiah Vesey 
Baxter, read Edward Willard Baxter, Josiah Vesey. 

416, 2d line from bottom,— for Cleverly, E., read Cleverly, 2d. 

425, 4th line from bottom,— the word and omit, and add the words Na- 
thaniel Beals. 

433, 17th line, — for Joseph read Lewis; 30th line, — forPearse Crauch read 
C. Pearse Cranch. 

469, lOih line, — for John read James. 

493, 10th line, — before Mr. Josselyn add John L. Souther. 

511, 7th line of note,- read Jonathan and Samuel Newcomb, brothers, 
and James Newcomb. 

51(), 5th line, — for pieces read parts. 

538, 15tb line, — for property-holders read house-holders. 

542, 6tli line,— for 1673 read 1672; at the beginning of the third paragraph 
prefix the date 1674. 

548, 16th line, — for Aleau read Alsun. 



ERRATA. 633 

Page 550, 9th line, — for four read five; last line, — for land meadow re:i(l land 

and meadows. 
" 558, 3d line, — for Dernion read Deering;. 
" 610, Samuel C. Sewall should read Samuel E. ; Isaac N. Davis .should 

read I.saac Davis; Eleazar Wright should read Elizur. 
" 611, The vote of 1.S65 should read Alexander H. Bullock, 382; in 1K77, 

John I. Baker should read Robert C. Pitman. 
" 335, 10th line from bottom, — for stove read fire-place. 



81 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Academy, 92; Adams, 341; Thayer, 
346. 

Accident, 507, 537. 

Adams, Academy, 341 ; bioRraphical 
sketch of Clinrles, 576; ('harles F., 
570; George W., 57(i; Jedediah, 57;>; 
John, 572; John Q., 573; Thomas 
B., 57G: Literary Association estab- 
lished, 310. 

Adams', Samuel, barber bill, 3i1(5. 

Ages of Inhabitants in 1875, 014. 

Agreements, betw'n Boston and Brain- 
tree, 11, 32; between Weymouth and 
Braintree, 07. 

Aqricultnre, relating: to, 100. 

Almshovse, 90, 91, 92, 100, 231. 

Ammunition, 96, 358, 389, 537, 554. 

Ancient House, 338. 

Annexations of territory, 82, 100. 

Antinomian troubles, 182. 

Approprkitions, first town, 549. 

Assessment for arrest of ;^Io^ton, 8, 

Assessors, first appointed, 535. 

Assessors' Book for 1792, 022. 



Banking Institutions, 629. 

Bear Meadow, 55. 

Beeswax Bleacheries, 000. 

Bell, ringing of regulated, 89; new, 99, 
230; repairs on 229. 

Bendall's Farm, 5(5. 

Bills of Credit, 551, 552. 

Biographical Sketches of Charles Ad- 
ams, 570; Charles F. Adams, 570; 
George W. Adams, 570; Jedediah 
Adams, 573; John Adams, 572; 
John Q. Adams, 573; Thomas B. 
Adams, 570; Ebenezer Brackett, 
577; Richard Cranch, 490; ^Ebenezer 
Cro.sby, 577; Benjamin V. French, 
578; Edward Gibbons, 542; Jo-seph 
Goucb,370; Thomas Grcenleaf, 579; 
John Hancock, 580; Henry Hope, 
584; Samuel Nightingale, 5S0; Jos. 
Palmer, 4S0; Joseph I'earse Palmer, 
58f! ; Edmund Quincy ( Puritan ), 580 ; 
Edmund (Juincy {(/'olonel),587; Ed- 
mund (i)nincy (.1 ndge), 5S7 ; Edmund 
Quincy (Merchant), .W9; Edmund 
Quincy (.son of Josiali), 589; Jacob 
Quincy, 5.S9; John tjnincy, 588; Jo- 
siah Quincy, 589; Josiali Quincy 
(Patriot), 5!)0; Josiah (Juincy (Hon. ) 
591; Samuel Quincy, 590; Jo.sepb 
Eichards, 515; William Shirley, 143; 



John Souther, 495; Amasa Stetson, 
;>49; Gideon French Thayer, .529; 
Pev. John Thayer, 272; Sylvanus 
Thayer, .591; WiilianiTompson, 195; 
George Wliite, 529; INIary White, 
595; Peter Wliitney, 594; Solomon' 
Willard, 501: Ebenezer Woodward, 
590. 
Birds, 2, 551. 
Birthplaces of Inhabitants in 1875, 

613. 
Black's Brook and Creek, see Furnace 

brook. 
Boars, appropriations for, 550. 
Boot Business, history of, in Quincy, 

001.' 
Boundary Lines, 103. 
Boinitiet<, see military. 
Brackett, Ebeu'r, biographical sketch 

of, 577. 
Braintree, cemetery, 154; census, 611 
to 619; churches, 284; derivation of 
name, 10; incorporated, 11, 5.34; in- 
dustrial statistics, 007; instructions, 
380; library, 353; newspapers, 533; 
post oftice, 180; schools, .'145; school 
Statistics, 619; Weymouth Turn- 
pike Corporation, 71 ; banks, 029. 
Bread, baking of prohibited, 5."{(j. 
Bridges, Captain's, 5(!; Hingham and 
Quincy, 71; Stoughton, 70; Nepon- 
set, ()8, 9(5; Braintree and Wey- 
mouth, 71; Granite, 71. 
Brooks, Furnace or Black's, 55; Town 
or Webb's, 55; Standing or Dead, 
55. 
Bidls, appropriations for, 550. 
Burial Grounds, see cemeteries. 



Canals, 104. 

Captcfin's Bridge and Plain, .56. 

Cemeteries, Braintree, 154: Catholic, 
147; Epi.scopal, 141; Hall, 146; Han- 
cock, 99, 103, 111; Mount Wollas- 
ton, 148. 

Census of Qnincv, Braintree, Ran- 
dolidi and Hoibrook, Oil to OlS. 

Centennial Anniversaries, 78, 79, 81. 

Churches, First (Braintree, now Quin- 
cy), 90, 91, 92, 9:{, 95, Vi^. W:',, ISl, 
541, 542, 549; Second (Braintree), 
2H4; Third (Randolph). 2'.K); Thinl 
(Braintree), '_'K8; Catholic (Quincy), 
270; (PandolplO. 295; (Braintree), 
290; Christ (Quincy), 245; Baptist 



636 



GENERAL INDEX. 



(Quincv), 280; (Braintree), 289, 290; 
(Randolph), 291; (Holbrook), 29(); 
Congrecrational (Orthodox, Quincv), 
2fi2; (Holbrook), 296; Methodist 
(Quincy), 2(i7; (Braintree), 289; 
(Eandoliih), 295; Universalist 
(Quincy), 259; Union (Weymouth 
and Braintree), 287. 

Clerk of the Writs, 538, 539; first 
town, 539. 

Clocks, 78, 95. 

Coach Lace business, 520. 

Cochato, see Randolph. 

Coddbigton Lands, donated, 315; divi- 
sion of, 315; first applied for school 
jmrposes, 317. 

Commismry Supply, 300. 

Convent, Ursuline, established, 274, 
276. 

Cost of North America, 40. 

County Divided, 537, 553. 

Courts, District, established, 561 ; Pro- 
bate, 561. 

Covenant, First Church, 194. 

Cove, ship, 55. 

Cranch, Richard, biographical sketch 
of, 490. 

Crosby, Ebenezer, biographical sketch 
of, 577. 

Currying, sketch of business in Quin- 
cy, 604. 



Dead Brook, 55. 

Deaths, 549, 556. 

Delusion of Parmenter, 547. 

Deputies, list of, 562. 

Description of the Toivn in 1800, 64 ; in 

1878, 65. 
Distances, table of, 560. 
Division of the Town, 57, 58. 
Donations to the Town, 78, 95, 99, 166, 

423, 538. 
Dress, regulation of, 570. 



Early Births, 535; customs, 568; mar- 
riages, 535; deaths, 535; records, 
535; settlers, 1, 9, 11, 17, 18. 

Earthquake, 556. 

Epitaphs, 116, 154. 

Excommunication of James Faxon, 
156. 

Expenses of John Adams to Continen- 
tal Congress, 396. 



Fairfield's Diary, 114, 205. 

Farms, see North Quincy. 

Ferries, 68, 72. 

Fires, 8, 13, 77, 100, 257, 306, 330, 479, 
487, 549 ; first action of the town rel- 
ative to, 74, 538. 

Fire Engines and Apparatus, 74, 75, 
76, 77, 78, 561. 

First draft, 360; race course, 173; set- 
tlers, see early settlers. 

Fish, description of, 2, 524; business, 
522; whale fishery, 525. 



Flint, Henry, biograi^hical sketch, x. 

Footways, 67, 536. 

Foiol, description of, 2. 

Free Masonry in Quincy, 297. 

French, Benj. V., biographical sketch 

of, 578. 
Furnace Brook, 55. 
Funerals, sevv'wQS prohibited, 112; first 

prayer at, 113; precautions against 

premature burials, 153. 



Gas, companies incorporated, 73; first 

in use, 73. 
Genealogy of Tompson family, 323. 
Germantown, 56, 67, 98, 309, 475, 525. 
German Settlers, 482. 
Gibbons, Edward, biographical sketch 

of, 542. 
Glass Works, established, 473. 
Gqfe, the Regicide, 541, 577. 
Goy'ton' 6' arrest and imprisonment, 15; 

settlement, 16. 
Gouch, Joseph, biographical sketch 

of, 370. ^ 

Grand Army of Republic, 311. 
Granite, quarries, 106, 497; railway, 

105, 505; turnpike and bridge, 71. 
Great fenced fields, 55. 
Great Hill, 308, 394. 
Greenleaf, Thos., biographical sketch 

of, 579. 
Gubernatorial Elections, 609. 



Half-moon Island, 98. 

Hancock, John, biographical sketch 

of, 580; cemetery, 99, 103, 111; Light 

Guards, 439. 
Hard Times, 423, 534. 
Hat Manufactory, 599. 
Hay Scales, 95. 
High School, 3.39. 
Holbrook, census of, 612; churches, 

296; incorporated, 296; industrial 

statistics, 607; library, 354; post 

office, 180; schools, 350; statistics, 

622. 
Ho]:ie, Henry, biographical sketch of, 

584. 
Horse Block, 329. 
Hotels, see public houses. 
Hough's Neck, 56, 67, 98, 308, 309. 
Hutchinson, Ann, see Antinomian 

troubles. 



Illegal Voting, prohibited, 538. 

Indian deed, 45; three persons killed 
by, 363; troubles, 357, 359, 549, 551. 

Industrial statistics, 599. 

Inhabitants in 1875, ages of, 614; birth- 
place of, 613; births, 617; births for 
11 years previous, 617; census of, 
612,617; deaths of, 617; deaths for 
11 years previous, 618; marriages, 
617 ; marriages for 11 years previous, 
618; nativity of, 613. 

Injury to Miss Palmer, 488. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



637 



Inoculation for small pox, 88, 99. 

Insane persons, 540, 547, 548, 550. 

Insurance Co., Quincy Mutual Fire, 
(i2<). 

Inventory of Estates, of Iron Works 
Co., 4(50; Alexaniler Marsh, .")G(!; 
Martin Sanders, 104; Edmund Quin- 
cy, 565. 

Irish Emigration forbidden, 10; as a 
political element, 280. 

Iron Works in Braintree and Quincv, 
31, 38, 450: location, 458, 461. 

Islands, Half -moon, 98; Nut, 89. 



Kidnappina. ca.oe of. 5.'5. 

Kinf) of Encjland's price of North 
America, 40. 

Kni'/hts of Honor, 307; of Pythias, 
.•^07; Neck, 12, 13, 55, 56. 

Know Xothinris, extent of their preju- 
dices, 151. 

Knives and Forks, first introduced, 
568. 

Land Bank, 553. 

Land Disputes, Gorton's. 17: Boston 

and Dorchester, 18, 22, 31: Seth 

Spear and James Brackett, 89; town 

and Theophilus Thayer, 08; town 

and Benjamin Tompson, 5.")0; North 

and South Commons, 37; town and 

Richard Thaver, 40. 
Land Grants, original, 11, 13,19; 6,000 

acres, 14, 541; petitions for, 16, 451, 

482, 553. 
Land Pvrchases, for town house, 101, 

102, 108; John Morely of Henry 

Flint. 539. 
Latin School, Boston, .37. 
Launch of the Massachusetts, 493. 
Laio Sri its, town vs. Andrews and 

Phippeny, 540; town vs. Thomas 

Gatliffe, 543; town vs. Benjamin 

Owen, 555. 
Leather Gun, 362. 
Libraries, Public, Braintree, 353; Hol- 

brook, 354; Quiucy, 351; Eandolph, 

353. 
Ludden, Benjamin, preface to the will 

of, 368. 
Lyceum, Quincy, 310. 

Magistrates, appointed, 535, 536. 
^faps of the town, 90. 
Ma-rc Mount, .see Merry Mount. 
Murriaqe contracts, 54(5; intentions of, 

155, 551. 
Marsh, Alexander, inventory of estate 

of, 5()(5. 
Marshall's Diary, 114, 205. 
May Pole, 2, 3, 4. 
McClcllan Guards, 448. 
Mi'fiiini-hiiuses. .see churches, 
Mem/ Mount, 2, 3, .5, (i, 7, 8, 63. 
Mevican War, 437. 
Military, bounties, 90, 100: preneral 

history of, 355; soldiers in Indian 



wars, 363; Revolutionary War, 377; 
minutemen and other soldiers, 402; 
Tories, 416; Gen. Palmer's dona- 
tion, 423; bounty juIn^)e^, 4'25; pri- 
vateer Ussex, 425; soldiers in Shay's 
Rebellion, 428; Quincv Lifrht In- 
fantry, 429, 438; War of 1812, 4;«; 
soldiers of 1814. 449; Mexican War, 
437; .soldiers of, 438; Hancock Light 
Guard, 4.39; Civil War of 1861, 440; 
the first company to take part, 440; 
the tirst soldier killed, 441 ; number 
of soldiers furnished, 441; drafted 
men, 442; substitutes furnished, 443, 
444; list of commissioned officers, 
445; li.st of soldiers wlio died or were 
killed, 447; Quincy's expen.ses by 
the war, 448; soldier.s' monument, 
44S: McClellan Guards, 448. 

Mill, privilege granted, .30, 535; dis- 
pute relative to, 542, 543. 

Ministers, see churches. 

Miller's Stile, 67. 

Monatiquot, 56; river, 7. 

Moor's Farm, 56. 

Morton's description of Passonagessit 
in 1622, 3, 6.3. 

Mount Da(/vti, 4. 

Mount W'oUaston, first .settled, 1, 2; 
first English name, 1 ; annexed to 
Boston, 10; land grants 11; An- 
tinomian troubles at, 182: Wheel- 
wright's sermon preached at, 186, 
19ir church formed at. 193: John- 
son's description of, 199; bank, 629. 



Names now evtinct, 557. 
National Jianks, 629. 
National Sailors' Home, 310. 
Nativity of the inhabitants in 1875, 

613. 
Neponsei Bridge and Turnpikes, 68, 

96. 
New Braintree, 15. 
Newbury Farm, 54. 
New.'<papers, history of, 529. 
Nightingale, Samuel, biographical 

sketch of, 58(5. 
Norfolk County, organized, 537. 
Noi'th Quincy, 56. 
Nxit Island, 89. 



Odd Fellows, lodge of, 307. 

Officers chosen, town, 8.5. 95; State, 
8(5, 96, (SOit; presidential electors, 97, 
98, 100; fees of, in 1(541, 5:5(). 

Old Colon;/ Ilailmad, 71, 107. 

Old Fields, see (,)uincy Point. 

Orangemen, 311. 

Ordination Expenses in 1729, 218. 



Palmer, Joseph, biograi>hical sketch 
of, 48(5; his donation, 402. 423. 

Palmer. Joseph Pearse, biographical 
sketch of, ri>^{i. 

Pastors of First Church, '24o. 



638 



GENEEAL INDEX. 



Penn's Hill, 56; name derived, IGG. 
Fenny Ferry, G'.), 547. 
Persons warned out of town, 89, 91. 
Petitions, to incorporate Braintree, 11; 
for prant of (5000 acres, 14, 541; for 
prant of 1000 acres, K!; for prant in 
lieu of 4000 acres in Milton, 55,3; for 
a church at Mount WoUaston, 193; 
of Benjamin Tompson, for a land 
grant, 321; of Gorman settlers for 
relief, 482; relative to Daniel Ar- 
nold, an Indian, KiT; relative to 
Crosby's tavern, lf)8; for a second 
church, 207; of members of Christ 
Church, 249; for renewal of charter 
of Rural Lodne, 1505; of Richard 
Thayer, 41, 1504; for an Infantry 
Company, 429; of the Town of Mil- 
ton, 451; of the Punkajiog Indians, 
552. 

Few Owners in First Church, a list of, 
23;?, 234, 236. 

Filgrim's Feast, 20. 

Poetry — Morton's poem, 3; sons. 4; 
hynnis sunij at dedication of Mount 
Wollaston Cemetery, 152; Luut's 
poem at laying of corner-stone of 
Sailors' Snug Harbor, 308; verses 
on the death of Sarah Thayer, 158; 
Tompson's poem on the death of the 
Rev. S. Whiting, 320. 

Pond Market, 562. 

Poor, garden for, 91 ; let out at auc- 
tion, iili; allowed the use of liquors, 
107; allowed to sell rations, 107. 

Poorhoiise, see almshouse. 

Post Offices, rules and regulations 
estabiished, 177; Quincy, 178; Brain- 
tree, 180. 

Potatoes, first cultivated, 541. 

Pound, 90. 

Powder removed from North Com- 
mons, 389. 

Presidential Electors, 97, 98, 100. 

Prices of provisions, 93; regulated, 
5.34. 

Privateers prohibited, 89; schooner 
Enterprise, 436; schooner Essex, 
425. 

Private Schools, 340. 

Pablic Ilmtses, l(i4; Brackett, 169; Hen 
tavern, 171; Noponset, 172; Han- 
cock, 174; Landlords, 174. 

Pliblic Libraries, Braintree, 353; Hol- 
brook, 354; Randolph, 353; Quiucy, 
351. 

Pumpkin Hill, 56. 



Qvincy, Edmund, biographical sketch 
of, ,586, ,587, 589; Jacob, 589: John, 
588; Josiah, 589, 590, .591; Samuel, 
590; inventory of estate of Edmund, 
565. 

Quincy Charitable Society, 307. 

Quincy Light Lifantry, see military. 

Quincy Lyceum, 310. 

Quincy JVeivspapers, Patriot, 529; Au- 
rora, 631 ; Free Press, 531. 



Quincy and Hinghnm bridge and turn- 
pike, 71. 

Qxdncy Mutual Fire Insui-ance Co., 
()29. 

Quincy Ned; 12, 1.3, 55, 56. 

Quincy Point, 55; railroad, 110. 

Quincy Point and Germantown Ferry 
Co., 72. 

Quincy Stone Bank, 629. 

Qvincy, town of, incorporated, 61; 
banks in, 629; census of, 612; in- 
dustrial statistics of, 599; school 
statistics of, 619, 622; births, deaths 
and marriages in 1875, (517 ; nativity 
of inhabitants in 1875, 613; valua- 
tion in 1878, ()19; valuation and tax- 
list of 1792, 622; deaths, marriages 
and births for eleven years prior to 
1875, 617; schools of, 91 to 110, 325 to 
.340, .5.5(); post office, 178; churches, 
181 to 284; library, 351; cemeteries, 
111 to 154. 



Railroad, Old Colony, 71, 107; Quincy 
horse, 72; Granite, 105, 505; Quincy 
Point, no. 

Randolph, town of, incorporated, 13; 
early names, .56; cemeteries, Kil; 
post offices, 180; banks, 629; schools, 
328, 348; churches, 290; library, .353; 
new.spapers, 531 ; industrial statis- 
tics, 607; census, 612; births, mar- 
riages and deaths in 1875, 617; na- 
tivity of inhabitants, 613; valuation 
in 1878, <)19; school statistics, 619, 
622; births, marri.ages and deaths 
for eleven years, 617. 

Rebellion, of 1861, 440; Shay's, 428. 

Representatives, election of, 91, 92. 

Revolutionary War, 377. 

Richards, Joseph, biographical sketch 
of, 515. 

Roads, see streets. 

Roycdists, see Tories. 

Rumney Marsh, 10. 

R^im case, the first in town, 540. 

Rural Lod(/e, Freemasons, history of, 
299; petition of, 305. 



Sacred Vessels, belonging to the First 
Church. 244. 

Sailors' Home, National, 310. 

Sailors' Snuy Harbor, 308. 

Sale of North and South Commons, 
38. 

Saltpetre, .358. 

Sanders, Martin, inventory of estate 
of, l(i4. 

Savings Banks, 629. 

Scadding, see Randolph. 

Schools, Braintree, early history of, 
312; first ma.ster, 313, 319; first 
house, ,325; sketch of, 345; statis- 
tics of, 619, 622. 

Schools, Holbrook, sketch of, 350; sta- 
tistics of, 619, 622. 

Schools, Randolph, first house, 328; 



GENEBA.L INDEX. 



639 



sketch of, 348; statistics of, 619, 622. 
Schools, Qniiicy, appropriations for, 
<)o 330; districts established, OS), 331, 
332, 337; L;ttiii, 338; Hi^'li, 33!); pri- 
vate, 340; houses. 91, <I2, 100, 102, 
325, 329. 333, 339, 5515; first coiiiimt- 
tee's report, 3;>i; report of 182".l, 103; 
text-boolis used in 1838,619; statis- 
tics of, 110, 619, t)22. 
Scotch i'ond Road, 55. 
Shay's Rebellion, 428. 
Shed's Neck, see Germantowu. 
Ship-building, 493. 
Ship Cove, 5r,, 4^0. 
Shirley, William, biographical sketch 

of, i43. 
Shoe liysiness, 001. 
Shoeinakei; the first, in Mass., 603. 
Shoe Peqs. first introduced, 603. 
Sinners', 97 , 100, 103. 
Small Pox, 88, 100; hospitals estab- 
lished, 87. 
Soldiers, in the Indian wars, .''.()4 to 
3(57; Civil War, 440; INIexicau M'ar, 
4:38; Revolutiouary War, 402 to 426; 
Shav's Rebellion, 428; War of 1812, 
430,'449. . ^ ^ 

Souf/, Morton's, at the erection of the 
Mav-pole, 4. , , c 

Souther, John, biographical sketch ot, 

495. 
Spinning Wheel, first introduced, 64. 
Sqiointam, derivation of name, 20; 

feast of, 20, 173. _ 
St<tndi)i'j Brook, 55. 
Statistics, illiterate, 622; industrial, 
599; live stock, 619; school, 619; 
vital, 612, 617. 
Stetson, Amasa, biographical sketch 

of, 349. 
Stone QiKirryinjj, 497. 
Stonii Fields, 55. 
St. Patrick's Society, 311. 
St. Paid's Lodge, Knights of Pythias, 
307. , ,^ 

Streets, altered, 96, 97, 98; located, ()6, 
89, 98. W, 103, 536, 550, 555, 560, see 
turnpikes. 
Styles, old and new, 12. 
Smlden Deaths, 124, 129. 
Syenite, 491 \ King's Chapel erected, 
4<»8; old powder hou.'<e, Bo.ston, 499; 
regulation for the disposal of stone, 
4!)9; wedges first u.sed, 515; Bunker 
Hill :Moiniment, .")01 ; its dimensions 
507; buildings erected, 510,511; pav- 
ers, 514; bu.^h or axe hammer in- 
vented, 515; Louis hoIe,51(i; sawing 
stone, 516; poli.sliinsr, oUi; old firms, 
517; methods of quarrying, 518. 



Tanning Business, in Quiucy, sketch 

of, 604. 
Taverns, see public houses. 
Taxes Asse.s.^ed, in 1634, 18; in 1642, 

537; in 1792, 622. 
Tea and Coffee, first introduced, 569. 



Tempernnce Organizations, .307. 
Thatch Ranks reserved for common 

use of inhabitants, 568. 
Thayer Academy, .■;4(;. ,.,,.,, 
Thayer, John, biographical sketch of, 

Thmi'er, Richard, lays claim to the 
township, 41; petition of, 364; bill 

Thayer, Sylvanus, biographical sketch 

of, 591. 
Three HiU ^farsh, 56. 
Tobacco, use of prohibited, 164. 
Tombs Hoar's, 113; Qumcy s, 114; 

Ministerial, 114; Miller's, 1-15. 
Tompson, Wm., biographical sketch 

of, 195. 
Tories, 389, 416. 
Town unable to pay costs of court in 

a rum case, 540. 
Toicn Brook, 55. 

Town Clocks, 18, 9o. . ..^ vu\- 

Town Hall, first one burnt, 100, 3.», 

second one built, 101, 102, 103; the 

present one built, 107. 

Town Officers, hrst full board of, 548, 

first chosen in Quincy, 8o 
Town Meetings, 542, 553, 568. 
Traditioiis, German emigrants, 4ivj; 
Jo.-^eph Bass at school .32(,; John 
Adams' marriage, 491; John Pray s 
adventure, 601. 
Trainin;/ Field, 329^ 
Tree of Liberty, 3(8. 
Trial Justices, 5(Jl. 

Turnpikes, Granite, 71; Iseponset, 08, 
<)6- Quiucy and Hiugham, .1; NN ey- 
mouth and Braintree, 71. 

Union Choral Society, 310. 
Vnitarianism, first preached, 22i. 
Ursuline Convent, 274, 27b. 

Vaccination, 88, 100. 

Valuation of Braintree, Holbrook, 

Randolph and Quincy in 18<8, Ol.i, 

of Quiucy in lTi'2 622 
Vassall, Leonard, will of, 2o8. 
Veasey, Samuel, will of, o24. 
Vote of Quincy for governor from 1.9J 

to 1879, 609. 

Waldoborough, Ue., German settle- 
ment began at, 482. 

Wars Civil, 440; Indian, .«.0; 1812, 
435' 449; Mexican, 437; Revolution- 
ary' 377; Shay's Rebellion, ■428. 

Warrants, Town Meeting, 85, 86, 87. 

Webb's Brook, 55. 

Wessagu.fcu.% see Weymouth. 

West ijiiincy, 55. , ■, . r 7 

Weymouth, Morton arrested at, 6, 7. 

Wheelwright's Fast-day sermon, Ibb, 
191 

While, Mary, biographical sketch of, 
595. 



640 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Whitney, Peter, biographical sketch 
of, 5!)4. 

WllU, of Benjamin Ludrlen, 3(i8; of 
William Penn, ]6fi; of Svlvanns 
Thayer, 347, 348; Leon anl Vassal, 
258; Samuel Veasey, 324; Ebeuezer 
Woodward, 344. 



WiVard, Solomon, biographical sketch 

of, 501. 
Wihon Farm, 21, 55. 
Wolf Pit, .55. 
Wood's District, see West Quincy. 

Young Friend's Catholic Society, 311. 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Abbott. Hazen, 508, 510; Henry S., 
442 ; Josiah O . . Gl 1 ; Stephen G. , 283. 

Abercroinbie, Wvman, 149. 

Adam.s. Abiirail,i38, l?i9, 235. 23fi, 244, 
389, 402, 404, 419. 423, 595; Benja- 
min, 60; Betbia. 130: Bovl.ston, 119. 
439, 623; Captain, xii ; Charles. 57(5; 
Charles Francis, xi, 10, 1.39, 152, 190, 
2.'i8, 346. 351. 491, .576. 577. 611 ; Chas. 
F. , Jr. . 82. 445, 446, 506 ; Cbri.stopher, 
16; Delia,. 59f): Ebenezer, 60. 86. 115, 
240, 241, 417. 623; Eflward, 244; Eli- 
bu. 394. 404: Elizabeth, 119, 240; G. 
W., 2.36, 431. 576: Hannah. 119; 
Harrison T , 442; Henrv, 16. 28, 119, 
535, 5.38, .539: Hugh. 207, 215, 2a-., 
286; Jedediah, 60. 240, 260. 264. 573. 
623; John (president), xi. 38. .39, 69, 
9.5. 97. 98. 100. 115. 119, 1.37, 139, 163, 
167, 169, 170, 173, 19.5, 219, 222, 22.3, 
233, 235, 2.36, 2.37. 240. 241 , 242, 243, 
244, 245, .•'02, .326, 338, .340, .341, 343, 
.370 .371 , .378, .380, .381, .384, 391, 39:^ 
394, .396, .397, 398. .399, 400, 401, 404, 
406,419. 431, 4.32, 490, 491, 492, 515, 
542, 556, .564, 572, 573. 576, .577, 590, 
595. 623. 625; John, KJ, 126, 508, 576; 
John (dearon), 119, 120, 1.37, 167, 
252, .371; John Qnincv (president), 
ix. 9J). 121. 139, 236. 2-38, 241, 243, 
244, 264. .302, 337. .573, 574. .575, 576, 
.577,610; Jolin Qiiincy (son of Chas. 
F.), 1. 561. nil; Joseph. 34,119,210, 
212, 324. 408, 412, 418, 420, 44.3. .548, 
569, 605; Josiah, 60, 101, 102, 10(i, 
115, 233, 238, 240, 241. 244, 449, 623; 
Laban, 174; Lemuel. 60; Louisa C, 
140, 2:^6; Mariraret, 23«; Mary P., 
241; Mioah, 429; Micajab. 120, 430, 
623: Moses, 120; Nathaniel, 67, 412, 
Peter. .34, GO. 85, <)6. 130, 212. 233, 
240 253.4.52,573, 623; Peter Bovl- 
.ston, 39, 60, 90, 92, 95, 98, 115, 167, 
KW, 241, 31(i, 379, 390, .391, .392, 41!), 
623; Samuel, 16, 86 119, .39(;, .399, 
400, .52:<, .538. 581, 5S3, 586, .596, 609; 
Sarah, 119, 244; Susannah, liO, 1.37; 
Thoma.x, 16, 241, 4.30; Thomas B., 
85, 101. 237. .302, 576; Warren W., 
446; William, .59, 86, 11.3, 374, 418, 
623; Zabdicd, 340. 

Addin-iton. Isaac, 46.3. 

Ahatton, Thomas, .552; Amos A. , .5.52, 
(Indians.) 

Alhee, John, 74, 5.57. 

Alden, Daniel, 292, 2!H; Dr., 161; 

82 



Harmon V. 292; Hoaea, 292; Johu, 
158; Kuth. 119; Seth, 292; Simeon, 
300; Thankful. 292; William, 292 

Aldrich, Caleb. .374; S. T.,262. 

Aldriiltre, Benjamin, 557; George, 16, 
28,557. 

Alis, William, 16, 5.57 

Allen, Abijah, 410, 501; Amos, 415; 
Benjamin, .501 ; CaptT, .373; Daniel, 
167; Isaac, .37(i; Jacob, 409, 413; 
Jonathan, 40; Joseph, 34, 98, 208, 
213, 404, 405, 4(i3, 5(54; L. Wheaton, 
289; Mr., 198; Noiih D., 174: Obed. 
F.. 447; Peter, .35; Samuel, 28, .328, \ 
404, 409, 413, 428; Samuel T., 175 ;\ 
Thomas, 380; William, 264, 265, 405), 
428, 539. 

Allevne, Abel, 59; Edward, 5.36; 
Thomas, 253. 

Allye, Benjamin. 28. 

Almy, Francis, .368. 

Alsten, Michatd. 444; 

Alsun, Joseph, 548. .557. 

Always, Francis, 557. 

Ames, Daniel, .373, 375; Samuel, .508; 
William, .557. 

Andrews, Charles, 4.38: .John, 2(59, .540; 
John A , (511: Mr.. .5.38; Samuel, 524. 

Andros, Edmund, .321. .56.3. 

Appleirate, Thomas, 71. 

Appleton, Alfred. 2.38; .lobn, 238; 
Priscilla, 2.38; Ilev. Mr., 218, 22.3, 
Thomas. 437; William (}., (>(tit. 

Aptl-.orp, GeortreH.. 2.38; Griz/.el, 2.5.3, 
(523; James. (50, 41(5. (523; John, 252; 
Mr., 257, 3(59, .370, 55(5. 

Arbuthnott, William, ,375, .376. 

Archer, Edwanl. 415. 

Argall, Capt.. 270. 271. 

Armstronjr, Patrick, 442; Samuel T , 
510. 

Arnold, , 171; Abide M . .^53; 

Capt.. 418; Daniel. .59. 390, 40(5, 430, 
(;23: David, 422; Kphraim, .501, .549; 
.I.din. 2H; .lonafhan. 4().S. 418. 422; 
J(.so|di. .34, 404. 421. 449; Jo.seph X.. 
.59,85, 8(5, K7, 2.39, (523; Mct.scs, 40S; 
Nathan, 40(5; Nathaniel, 407, 410, 
411,415,422; Halph, 436; Samuel, 
.501; William, 410. 

Aspinwall, William, 11, 22, 23, 24, 
ISC, 1X7. 

Atherton, Humjihrey, 6(5, ;?(52, 3(53, 5.36. 

Atkins, .lames, '.MA. 

Austin, Benjamim,8«5; Cornelius, ,5.57 

Averel, Ezekiel, 415. 



642 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Avery, Ruth, 580; Secretary, 580. 
Ayers, John, 407, 410, 415. 

Babcock (Badcock), Lemuel, 59, 624; 
Mr., 235; Samuel, 88, 422, 517. 

Bachus, Thomas, 507. 

Bacon, Ebenezer, 98. 

Badjier Brothers, 512; Ezra, 447, 508, 
518; Leone C, 442. 

Badlam, Ezra, 428. 

Bagley, James, 161, 557; John, 374, 
550; Nathaniel, 375; Samuel, 161, 
549. 

Bailey, Ebenezer, 591; John, 610; 
Whitman, 13(). 

Bainbridjje, Commodore, 173. 

Bains, Canterbury, 421. 

Baker, David, 412; Ebenezer, 628; 
John I., 611; Mo.ses, 419. 

Balstone, W., 11, 22, 23, 188. 

Ballon, Hosea, 260. 

Bancroft, George, 610; Stephen K., 
442. 
N Bangs, Abijah, 412. 

Banks, Nathaniel P., 611. 

Barber, Daniel, 557. 

Barclay, William, 246. 

Bardon, John, 410. 

Barker & Co., 512; Frances, 142; Geo. 
A., 446; Henry, .514, 517; Henry & 
Sons, 514, 516, 517; Henry F., 440; 
Jo.seph, 100; Wni. P., 442; Wright 
& Co. , 512, 516, 517. 

Barnard, William, 434. 

Barnes, Dr., 222; Matthew, 32, 33, 
539, 557; Oramel C, 442. 

Barre, Col., 377. 

Barrett, Thomas, 16, 5,57; William H., 
444. 

Barry. Edward, 437; Garrett, 148. 
^^ Bartiett, Edward A., 442; Henry, 364; 
Ibrahim, 329, 332; Mr., 173. 

Bartol, Cyrus A., 227. 

Basle V, George \V., 447. 

Bass"(Bas), Benjamin, 60, 391, 623; 
Benjamin F., 440, 442; Cornet, 380; 
David, 60, 233, 623; Edmund, 406; 
Edward, 408, 415; E. W. H., 602; 
Gregory, 375; Hezekiah, 430; James, 
425; Jeriah, 414; John, 35, 125, 233, 
238, 247, 412, 490, 548, 623; John 
B , 180; Jonathan, 38, 60, 240. 329, 
333, 379, 390, 393, 402, 412, 413, 430, 
56t, 623; Joseph, 60, 212, 326, 380, 
397, .398, 400, 412, 427, 433, 548, 623; 
Josiah, 59, 106, 115, 237, 238, .302, 
303, 425, 430, 624; Lewis, 240, 332; 
Peter, 538; Polly, 238; Samuel, 14, 
32, 33, 35, 45, 46, 47, 60, 67, 70, 74, 
85, 125, 158, 167, 168, 208, 212, 233, 
244, 316, 3()4, 367, 406, 408, 413, 536, 
537, 538, 539, 540, 548, 562, 565, 569, 
627; Seth, 39, 233, 429, 4.30, 623; 
Thomas, 60, 119, 325, 548, 549; Wil- 
liam, 125. 
^ Bassett, Thomas, 557. 

Batchelder, Zephaniab, 376. 

Bate, Goodman, 66, 536. 



Bates, Ambrose, 420; Carver, 411; 
Cornelius, 421; David, 374; David 
W., 447; Edward, 187; John, 101, 
102, 103; William, 410. 
Battle, William, 388. 
Baxter, Anna, 126; Anthony W., 236, 
4.30,604; Barnabas, 127; Benjamin, 
39,233,375; Catherine, 236; Charles, 
374; Daniel, (iO, 90, 107, lOS, 12(>,237, 
301, 410, 428, 430, 526, 623; Daniel 
W.,412; Edward, 127; Edward W^., 
59, 86, 237, 407, 410, 411, 415, 623; Eli- 
jah, 305, 603; George, 179, 180; Geo. 
L , 442; Gregory, 126, 127; Hannah, 
623; Jame.s, 238, 623; Jerusha, 127; 
John, 34, 126, 212, 233, 380, 548, 
563; Jonathan, 59, 85, 95, 238, 442, , 
623; Joseph, 60, 96, 126, 127, 171, 412, V 
417, 420, 425, 426, 430, 623; Josiah, 
237, 305, 410; Lemuel, 239, 374; 
Lewis, 239; Lydia, 126; Mary, 126, 
127; Mehitabie, 126; Mr., 209, 316, 
Paul, 623; Rhoda, 127; Samuel, 35, 
126,127,211; Sarah, 126; Seth, 59, 
127,406, 407, 412, 415, 418; Su.san- 
na, 126; Thompson, 60, 109, 235, 237, 
239, 339, 603, (523; Williani, 238, 240, 
301, 30(5, 430, 624; William H., 440; 
William Q., 446; Wilson, 127. 
Beach, Erasmus I)., 611. 
Beale (Beal, Beals), Abigail, 129; An- 
na, 129; Benjamin. 57. (50, 61, (52, (58, 
82, 85, 87, 88, 90, 91, 92, i)6, 97, 115, 

i 129, 233, 241, 331, 376, 384, 385, 623, 

1 624, 629; Eleazer, 299, 408, 414, 415; 
Elisha, 129; Ezra, 518; George F., 
442; George W., 106. 109, 237, 241, 
264; Horace, 518; Lsaac, 414, 415; 

I Jesse. 88; John, 211, 233, 32(5; Jon- 
athan 60, 85, 129, 237, 623; Joseph, 

1 60,62,82, 129, 130, 212. 623; Lilly, 

i 129,130; Maria, 129; Mariah Ann, 
.332; Moses, 91; Nathaniel, (50, 412, 
(523; Phebe, 292; Solomon J., .561; 
Thomas S., 129; & Frederick, 518. 
Bean, Nathaniel M., 68. 

{ Bear^ William, 437. 

j Beard, George A., 442; Thomas, 603. 

j Beatty, Israel, 414. 
Beauchampe, William, 453. 

I Bebsten, Mary E., 478. 
Beckford, Dudley M., 442; James M., 

! 179. 
Bedlow, Samuel, 374. 
Heecher, Lyman, 2(53. 
Beeke, William, 453. 

I Beex, John, 453, 465, 468. 

! Beiler, S. L., 267, 270. 



Belcher, , 404; Ann, 323; Elijah, 

(50, 130, 412, 418, 421, 430; Gregory, 
28, 194. 211, 240, 326, 327, 458. 459, 
538; Hannah, 130; John, 4.30, .549; 
Joseph, 323, 404, 409, 413; Josiah, 
247, 368; J. White, 5()1; Linus, 334; 
Mary, 1,30, 240; Mo.ses, 222, 232, 233, 
464, 472, 501; Mrs., 326; Nahum, 
375; Nathaniel, i;!0, 233, 390. 408, V^ 
411, 413, 420, 421, ."01, <527; Richard,-A 



IXnEX TO NAMES. 



643 



420; Samuel, 34, 211, 233, 403,415. 
418, 422, 550, 627; Sarah, 130; Thos., 
.375, 404, 408, 414, 420; William, 449, 
501. 
Belkuap. Andrew E., 507. 
Bell. Lntlier V, till; Thomas, 28. 
Bellfield. Samuel, 28. 
Bemi.s Joel, 518; Josiah, 171, .501, 515, 

,518. 
Bend, W O., 507. 
Bendall, Edward, 30, 50, 188: Free- 

orace, 204. 
Bennett, Mr., li)5; Osniand, 447. 
Benoih, Joseph, 41(). 
Bent, Deborah, ]3(!; Eben, ISC), 2(14; 
F. Edw.ard, 440, 44(): Hannah, 240; 
John,42i); Luther M., 447: Luther 
S., 440, 445, 446; Nedebiah, 238, 331, 
416, 623. 
Berry, James, 442; .Tohn F., 442. 
Besson, Winter, 374, 37."). 

Beveridiie, , 24(i. 

Biard, Peter, 270. 

Bicknell, Peter, 59, 128, 241. .316, .524, 
624. 

Biencourt, , 270, 271. 

Biford (Riford), John, 560; Joseph, 
- 405, 410, 413. 
Bigelow, George T., 252; Jabez, 603; 

Loring, 447; Timothy, 580. 
Biggs, Ch.arles, .5.57; John, 187. 
Billings, Benjamin, 623; Edmund. .59, 
101, 102, 106, 238, 390, 412, 419, 623; 
Frederick, 623; Georse B., 84,241; 
George W., 84, .332; Jerusha, 238; 
John, 60, (i2, 68, 82, 80, 241, 3.32, 623; 
Lemuel, 60, 86, 88, 334, 624; iSIary, 
, 238; Moses, 83; Oliver, 8.3, 241, 628: 
Roger, 47, 118. 
^ Billington, Thomas, 470, 557. 

Bird, Franci.s V,'., 611; Thomas, 2.H; 

AVarren, 292. 
Bisbee, Herman, 262. 
Bishop, Henrv NV., (ilO; .Tonathan, 

373, 375. 
Black, Esther, 235; Moses, 55, 59, 68, 
89. 90, 92, 95. iK), 98, 115, 2.35, 2.36, 
279, 280, 316, 333, ()23. 
Blackburn, John L., 2.55. 
Blackler, J. C, 437. 
Blacknian, Peter, 421. 

Blackstoue, , 8. 

Blai.sdell, Lemuel J., 444. 
Blake, Amariah, 628; Enos, 628; Jo- 
seph, 375; Nathaniel, 373, 375. 
Blancliard, Elisha.411; Epliraini, 410; 
Jonathan, -376; Jo.«ei)h, .30;>, .373, 406, 
408,415; Nathaniel, 60, 4:50; Nehe- 
miah, 375, ,37(i; Thomas, 539; Wil- 
liam, 303, 409, 413, 415. 
Bli.ss, Thomas, 28. 
Bloom, Solomon, 415. 
Blossom, Oliver, 415. 
Boanlnian, Davis, 241; Fanny, 1.5(!. 
Bolter, Thomas, 5,">7. 
Bolteuhouse, Mrs., 152. 
Bonaparte, Louis, .5H(i. 
Bond, Nicliolas, 367, 4.53, .557. 



Borland, John, 252. 
Bos worth, Zaciieus, 187. 
Boubo, Jefferson, 443. 
Bourne. Mr., 221. 
Bout well. George S., 610. 
Bow<litch, William. 628. 
Bowdoin, .James, 86, 31t6, 424. 
Bowers, Mr., 628. 
Bowman, llev. Mr., 223. 
Boy, John. 443. 
Bovd, William, 44(i, 448. 
Boyle, John, :i(m; Robert, 442. 
Boyles, John, 375. 

Brackett, Alice, 239; Betsey, 122, 241; 
Capt., 373; Ebenezer, 59. 122, 412, 
.541, 577, 624; Geor<:e A., 442; J as., 
.59,89,91, !V), 98, 115, 122, 123, 168, 
169, 172, 211, 239, 316, 325, .378, .381. 
:^90, 412, 436, 4.37, .563, 577. 604, 624; 
John, 211; Joseph 60, 90. 1.33, 211. 
233, 237, 3:«, 418, 501, 624; Lemuel, 
122, 167, 168, 235, 238, 239, 240, 242, 
243, 302,303; Lydia. 1.33; Mary, 123, 
133, 624; Moses, 59, (iO, 1.33, 25.3, 374, 
406, 407, 410, 412, 415, 41S, <)23, 624; 
Nathaniel, 122, 2.33: Peter. 28, 59, 
61, 74, a5, 115, 13:3, 241, 412, 430, .5.3.S, 
539, 543, .545, 546, 562, 624: Rachel, 
133; Richard, 14, 16, .54, 118, 122, 
133. 1.58, 2.32, 2.39, 359. 'M'A. 3»;5, :^>6, 
367, 375, 539, 540, 546, .562, 5<i3, 568; 
Samuel, 410; Samuel E., 122, 439; 
Sarah, 123; Thomas, 60, 416. 422; 
William, 40(j, 407, 410, 411, 415. 
Bradford, Goody, 549; James, 72; v^ 

Secretary, 173. 
Bradley, Alexander, .5.57: Hopestill, 

403, 407. 410, 411, 415. 
Brainard, Chas. H., 2.56; Jas. A., 440. 

Bramhall, , .523. 

Brannon, John N., 444. 

Brenton, ISIartha, 10; William, 23. 

Brewer, Richard, 437. 

Briant, Lemuel, xiii. 220,221, 222,227, 

245. 263, 339; Simon, 211, .5.57. 
Briesler, (Briesner, ) Biickhart, 481; 
George, 412, 47^, 4.80, -,57, (i03; John 
101, lOl', 103, 2.37, 406, 407, 412, 41.5, 
478; i^t Fowie, 603. 

Bri.rtrs, , 20, 91; Daniel, 493; Geo. 

N, 610, 611; Luther, 149, 1.50; Wil- 
liam H.,444. 
Bri'^ham. David, 29<); Josiah, 10«), 

237. 264, 329. 433, 449, ()29. 
Briirlit, John, 626. 
Brims, Mr., 149. 
Hriscoe, William, 28, .30. 
Brockett, Caleb, 440. 
Bron.son, Samuel, .5,57. 

Br„„kf,_ , 4:n: John, 260, 609, 610; 

Mary I., 352; Rev. Mr. 243. 
Brown, Charles A., .523, .526; ("harle.s 
H , 442; Ebene/.er. 406, 4(\8, 414. 
415; Kd win, 440; Rev. John, 223; 
.lohn I'., 447; Polly, VM; R. W. E., 
29.3: Samuel, .59, 8li, l.'U, 624; Sam- 
uel P., .5:i2; S\i.xannah, l.'W; T. B., 
437: William, 2S. 



644 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Browne, Mr., IG, 17. 

Bryant, Gridley, 105, 505, 517; Simon, 

35. 
Tiuchan, William, 448. 
Buchanan, Jame.s, 17!). 
Buckliart, Jacob, 481, 
Buckley, Uov., 541. 
Biij;l)(!(i, William B., 17!l. 
Buifincli, (:ii:u-l(!.s, 502. 
Bulkloy, Mr., 204. 
Bull, I'lunrv, 188. 
Bnllar.I, Nathaniel, 557. 
liullock, Alexander H., 1111. 
Bunij)u,'<, Amelia Ij., 'A')2, ',]5'.i; Everett 

C, 5()1. 
Bundy, George H., 175. 
I'.unton, Andrew, 508 ; Jesse, 517 ; 

Jes.se & C;o., 'J4.5, 510. 
Burden, (ieorKC 2X, 187. 
Bursess, C. R., :i40. 
Burke, (Japt. , ;>74; Edward, 415. 
l'.uriis, Georye, 447; William II., 447. 
Burr, Charles, 421; Cushinjj, 421, 

James, 442. 
Burra^e, .lohn, 422. 
Burrell, (Barren ). Beza, 415; David, 

40:!, 415; David J.. 440, 442, 44:5; 

(Jeorj^e, 28; John, 412; John T., 

2(;!); Joseph, 44!l; I'eter, (>0,42!), ()24; 

Seth. .511. 1)1, !)2, 102, 2:;(J, 4.'?0, 449, 557, 

(124; Winslow, 442. 
Burrou<;lis, Rev. Mr., 25(i. 

Burslem, , 8. 

Burt, ,.S77; J. H. .337. 

Buslmall, Martha, 28. 

Butler, Benjamin K., 441, till; Ellery 

C, 22H; Peter, xii, 55. 
Button, -lohn, lH7. 
Bylos, Mather, 275. 
Byion, James, 177. 

Cahill, Georfie, 443. 

Cain, Adoniraiii, 442; Benjamin, 411; 
Lewis H., 442. 

CaKfiil, William, 412. 

Calef, Mehitable, (128. 

Campbell, Neal, 540. 

Cai)en, Bernard, 028; Charity, 121); 
.lo.siah, 120; Nathaniel 374, 375, 409, 
413. 

Carder, Richard, 188. 

Carew, Thomas, 557. 

Carey, Alpheus, ^K), 95, 329, 024; Sim- 
eon, 370. 

Carley, Henry, 557. 

Carlton, .1. Warren, 003. 

Carraher, Bernard, 277. 

Carroll, Bi.shop, 275; Matthew, 140. 

Carter, Hiclianl, 28. 

Carver, Charles W., 447. 

Ceaser, , 410. 

Chadwick, John II., 442. 

Chamberlin, Edwin M., Oil; John, 
259, 200; cSi Mason, 2.38. 

Chandler, Charles, 449; Ebenczer, 449; 
Elii)halet, 429, 4.30, 449, G24; Wil- 
liam, 00, 024. 

Chapin, 10. S.,51S; Josiah, .557. 



Chapman, Tlichard, ."03, 5.57. 

Chauncy, Charles, 113, 114, 237, 579. 

Chcesbro, William, 11, 535, .530, 502. 

Cheesman, Abel, 404, 411, 412, 415; 
Benjamin, 404, 411, 412, 415; Ed- 
ward, 405, 408; Georjie, 249; John, 
00, 410; Joseph, 409; Matthias, .373, 
.374, .375, 40.3, 41.3, 420; Noah, 403, 
407, 409, 414, 415; Samuel, 403, 4('5, 
409, 414; Stephen, 404, 415, 421; 
Zeba, 408, 413, 418. 

Cheney, -lohn, 307. 

C-hevers, 'J'')iomas, .370. 

Cheverus, Bishop, 274, 275, 270. 

Chikataubut, 48; .losiah, 41, 45, 40, 
47, 48. 49 (Indians). 

Child, Thomas, .5.57. 

Chorley, .John W., 129; Theodocia, 
129. ' 

Chote, Capt.. 4H4. 

Chubbuck, David T., 440, 440; Fran- 
cis G., 447; Henry, 442; .lames, 447; 
Matthew, M.(! , 440, 441 ; Perez, 2.37, 
440; William K.,442. 

(Jhurch, Moses, 177. 

Churcliill, Thaddens, 440; & Co., 518. 

Clatlin, William, Oil. 

Clapp, Api)olI()S, 172; Cajit., 42, 44,40, 
49; (Jharles, .531; Geor<j;e, 107. 

Clark, Atkins, 409; Barn.abas, 404, 
408; Benjamin, l(i2, 413; Daniel, 
287; Edmund, 133; Eleanor, 145; 
Elliot, 408. 413; (Jreffory, 412, 418, 
421,425; Henry, 133, 293; Hobart, 
027; Jacob, 428; James, 28, 133, :{90, 
400, 408, 412, 024; John, 28, 1H8, 410, 
428; Jonathan. 374, .370; Joshua, 

403, 407, 414, 415; Lemuel, 407. 408, 
414,415,425; Mary, 13.3, 145; Nel- 
son, 1.52, 205; Paul. 40.3, 410; Peter, 
412; Richard, 145; Samuel, (iO, .373, 

404, 407, 409, 415; Silas, :!70; Theo- 
dora. 1.33; Thomas 28; Timothy, 
37; T. W ,R<>v.,289; Wm., 144, 2.55. 

Clements, Gersbom, 108 

Cleverly, , 171; lienjamin. (iO, 144, 

374, 379, 380, 410, 4.30, 5.50, 024; Eb- 
enezer F.,447; Geo. F, 440; Henry, 
,59, 410, 024; Jonathan, 411, 410, 422, 
024; -John, ;«, 00, 123, 144, 247, 324, 
4.30, 452, 548, 024; Joseph, 5!t, 00, 
144, 255, ;}74, .378, ;{79, 380. .389, 410, 
4.30, 024; Leonard, .59, 407, 415, (!24; 
Lewis, 449; Molly, 144; Samuel, .501, 
5.50; Sarah, 12.3, "144; Stephen. 123, 
233, 501; Thomas, 00, 80, 375, 024. 

Clifford, John H., 010. 

Clinton, Do Wit, 578. 

ClouKb, John, 120; William, .5.57. 

Cobb, David, 97; Sylvan us, 2(50. 

Cock, Clement, 34, 212, 320, .5.57. 

Coddiimton, William, 11, 12, 22, 2.3, 
24, 25, 20, 45, 149, 1.53, 183, 184, 187, 
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 31(), .3137. 

Cos«eshall, John, 180, 188. 

Colbourne. William, 11, 22, 2.3, 24. 

Colbnrn, Lcnmel A,, 440, 447; Wil- 
liam E., 447. 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



645 



\ 



Colby, Lewis, 282. 

Cole, Clement, 28; Samuel, 187. 

Coley, J. M. , '2<Xi. 

Colley, Jeremiah, 408. 

CoUicott, , 70. 

Collins, Christopher, 28; Jacob B., 
508; John, 28. 

Colman, , 431; John, 237; Rev. 

Mr., '29"). 

Compton, John, 188. 

Conlin, Timothy, 447. 

Converse, Oti.s, 203. 

Conway, Thomas, 442. 

Conwevs, James, 557. 

Cook, Capt.. 52r): Jonathan. 241, 449; 
Michael, 442: Thomas, (J24. 

Cooke, Richard, 187, 54<i. 

Cooper, Samuel, oH'l. 

Copeland, Asa, 420; Ebenezer, ir>7: 
Ephraim, W7; Isaac, 40, 40(i, 410; 
Jacob, 422; John, 35, fJO, 40(5, 408, 
411, 412, ()24; Lawrence, 120. 557; 
Mr.,8i); Samuel, «24; Seth, 400,410, 
413; Thomas, :M, 3CA, 368, 501; Wil- 
liam, 35. 

Copeley, Lionel, 453. 

Cordley. C. M.. 291. 

Corey, James, 28. 

Cornelius (nejiro), 421. 

Cornell, William. .37(5: William M., 
2(54, .340, 434. .529. 

Corvis, John. 557. 

Cose, William, ()24. 

Cotton, .lohii, 181, 182, 185, 191, 201, 
465, 58)), .587. 

Couch, Darius N.. 611. 

Cours, James, .557. 

Crabtree. John, 28. 

Crafts. Thomas, 86. 

Cranch, Chri.'itopher P., 80, 81. 4.33; 
Luc V, 240; Mary, 487, .595; Richard. 

59, 62, 63. a5, 80, 178, 223, 240, 475, 
476, 482, 487. 490, 491, 492, 564, 565, 
595, (524; William. 240. 492. 

Crane, Clement, .375; Daniel, 59, 624; 
Ebenezer, 60, 233. 238, 403, 4.30. 549, 
624; Edmund, 375; Elisha T.. 239; 
Elizabeth. 136; Friend. .3.36; Oeo., 
434, 438; Henrv. 34. 136, 422; Jos., 

60, 422, 428; Ralph, 422; Samuel, 
403; Seth, 447; Thomas. 241, 4.30. 

Crellius, Jos., 473, 474, 475. 476, 477. 

Cricknev, ('harlcs H , 440. 

Critchley, Richard, 28. 

Crocker, Theopliilus, 411. 

Cromwell, Oliver, 185, 189; Richard, 189 

Cronin. John, 447; Michael, 442. 

Crooker, Andrew. 442, 

Crosby (Crosbie), Annie. 197; Betsy, 
156; Ebenezer. 577; Jonathan, 167. 
168, 374; Jo.seph. 41, .57, 119, 168. 
211, 222, 2.32, 2.33, 319, 328. 364. 459. 
501, 551, 5.52. .5.57, .563, .564; Mary, 
167, 168; Sanuiel. (iO; Simon, 198, 
233; Thomas, 167, 168, 169, 2.33. 

Crowninshield, Benjamin, (JOit. 610. 

Cudworth, Urbane, 152, 262. 

Cullymore, Isaac, 28. 



Cumminjis, , 224; Charles A., 269; 

Noah, 517; Noah L., 440, 447. 

Cunningham, James H., 440, 442; 
Rev. Mr. 224. 

Curtis, Abi^'ail, l.'Wi; Adam, 137, 238, 
405, 409, 413, ()02, 627; Ann, 137; 
Beii.iamin. 1.3(), 'MO, 603; Charles & 
I^ewis, 603; Deodatus, 16, 535; Ed- 
ward, 4.30; Elizabeth, 137; Franklin, 
4.39, 440, 441, 445, tK)2; Georsie, 442; 
Jesse, 411; Jonathan, 414, 416; 
John. ,501; Joseph. 407, 415, 41(), 429; 
Jo.sephus, 4:M); Moses, 339, 404; 
Neddv, ()0, 3.32, 429, 624; Noah, 102, 

m;, 108, i;{6, 1.37. 238, 242, 243, 2rA, 

443, 601, 602; Fiebekah, .5.35; Sam- 
uel, 137, 238, 332, .374, 409, 413, 418, 
425, 552, 602, 627; Solomon, 535; 
Su.sanna, 1.3(); Theopliilus, 34, 212, 
285, .548; Thomas, (M)2. 

dishing:, Caleb, 438, 610; Joshua, 174; 
Mr. .396; Prenti.ss, 412; Rejxemelech, 
407,415; Thomas, 37, 523; William, 
609. 

Cutler, Benjamin C, ii, 81, 238, 256, 
257, 431. 

Cutshamokiti, (Indian), 356, 357. 



Dap, John, 447. 

Dasset, Tristam, 416. 

Daily, Edward, 442; Garrett, 448. 

Dais", Icbabod, 41(); Michael 416. 

Dale, Thomas, 270. 

Daly, John,. 558. 

Damon, Edward, 440, 447; Ezra, 449. 

Danforth, John, 218; Mr., 200, 205. 

Daniel, John, 247. 

Darling, John, 558. 

Darlv, I.>ennis, .558. 

Das.sett, John, 28, 194. 

Davenport, Addington, 37. 

David, C. Franklin, .53.3. 

Davis, Capt., 3()4; Isaac. 610, 611; 

John, 68, 100, 426, 610; Jo.seph A., 

442,443; Rev. Mr. 26(j; Samuel, 558; 

Samuel A., 26! ; William, 28. 
Davy, John, 187. 

Dawes, Judse, 492; Thomas, 86, 98. 
Diiv, Moses & ('.)., 517. 
Deadman, Joel P , .{.34. 
Dean, Paul, 260; William W., 152, 

261, 304, 305. 
Dearborn, Henrv, 609; Major Gen., 

592. 
Decrow, Valentine, .558. 
Deerinir, Samuel, 5,58. 
Delaiid, Georiie, 289. 
Dell, John, 5.5H; Lewis, 442. 
Dennehy, Rev. T. J., 278. 
Dennison. Daniel, 470. 
Dennys, Edward, 28. 
Denton, .facob, 422. 
Derby, Edward, .3.5, .558. 
Dermody, I'atrick, 447. 
Derry, Horace A., 446. 
Despard, Lambert, 5.58. 
Devanv, John. .508. 



646 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Devens, Charles, Jr., 611. 

Dewoody, Mortimer L., 444. 

Dewson, Edward H., 600. 

Dexter, Lord Timothy, 603; Nathan- 
iel, 449; Richard, 331; Samuel, 609. 

Deza, William. 558. 

Dickerman, Adeline, 335; Charles C, 
447; Lysander, 288. 

Dien.se, Peter, 558. 

Dill, John, 624. 

Dillaway, S. C, 292. 

Dimblebee, William, 549, 558. 

Dimmock, Col., 441; William R., 342. 

Dinelv, William, 187. 

Ding, Edward, 558. 

Ditson, William, 603. 

Dixwell, , 541. 

Doble, John, 408; Jo.seph, 408. 

Dodge, Isaac, 241. 

Doe, Rev. Mr. , 267. 

Doggett, Isaac, 558; John, 373; Seth, 
373. 

Dolan, John, 444. 

Donahue, Gen., 179. 

Donley, Jame.'^, 447. 

Donnavan, Timothy, 444. 

Dorr, Edward, 558. 

Dorren, James, 89, 279, 624. 

Dorifield, Barnaba,«, 460, 542, 558, 566. 

Dossett, John, 558. 

Douglas.s, Francis, 442, 443. 

Douty, Ichabod,416. 

Dow, Everett, 152. 

Dowd, James J., 440. 

Downara, John, 558. 

Downer, Daniel, 408. 

Downing, Deerman, 558; John, 376. 

Downs, , 169. 

Drake, Rev. Mr., 268; Thomas, 439, 
518. 

Drew, Samuel, 558. 

Driscoll, John M., 443. 

Driver, Joseph M., 292; Thomas, 293. 

Druillettes, Father, 270. 

Dudley, Jc^eph, 43, 52, 184, 248, 271. 

Duggan, Chas. G., 448; William B., 
107, 332, 596. 

Dummer, Jeremiah, 462; Richard, 
183, 184; William, 250, 551. 

Dunbar, Hosea, 375; James, 411; Jo- 
.siah, .376; Rev. Mr., 223; Sampson, 
403, 420; Samuel, 376. 

Dunham, Caleb, 373; Isaac, 376; Ma- 
ry, 91. 

Dunn, Arthur, 447. 

Durant, Nicholas, 558. 

Durgin, Jonathan C, 447. 

Duror, Gilleom, 416. 
-Duttou, John L., 518; Seth, 416. 

Dwelle, John, 241; John B., 602, 603; 
Lemuel, 305, 407, 415, 430, 624. 

Dwight, Henry E., 291; Joseph, 373, 

589. 

Dyer (Diah), Benjamin, .^76, 403, 407, 
410, 411, 415, 41(i; Christopher, 161, 
376; Ichabod, 407, 415; Jonathan, 
376; Thomas, 70; William, 187. 

Dyke, Col, 411. 



Eager, Thomas, 247, 248. 
Eanies, David, 161. 
East, Francis, 28. 
Easterbrook, Charles G. , 533. 
Eastman, Lucius R., 289. 
sl/teaton, Elisaeus, 290; Elisha, 558. v^ 

Horace, 442; Nathaniel, 411; Sam- 
uel, 411. 
Eccles, John, 444. 
Edmondston, Archibald, 416. 
Edwards, James, 17S, 258, 442, 491. 
Eelis, Nathaniel, 323; Mr., 221. 
Ela, Daniel, 508; Elisha T. C, 447; 

Samuel, 146, 508, 518; Samuel A., 

442. 
Elkins, Henry, 187. 
Elliott, Francis, 13, 16, 28, 30, 45, 68, 

558; Jacob, 33, 188; John, 356; Mr., 

200, 204; Richard G., 262; William, 

437. 
Ellis, Hannah, 323; Richard, 442; 

Rufus, 227. 
Ellison, Richard, 558. 
Ellsworth, A. A. 288. 
Elwell, Alonzo, 447; R. Warren, 447; 

William H,, 447. 
Embury, Philip, 267. 
Emerson, Burkley, 177; Thomas A., 

287. 
Enderly, Joseph S., 440. 

Endicott, , 8. 

Enright, Michael, 447. 

Etter, Margaret, 144; Peter, 144, 379 

381, 389, 390, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478 
Eustis, William, 574, 610. 
Everett, Edward, 503, 504, 510, 610 

James, 33; Timothy, 558. 
E well, Charles F., 442; John J., 442 

Lendell H., 440. 
Ezgate, Eleazer, 558. 



Fairbanks, Richard, 176, 187. 

Fairfield, , 114, 205. 

Fallon, John, 276. 

Faneuil, Andrew, 275; Peter, 499. 

Farnham, Chas. C, 354; Daniel, 155. 

Farnsworth, Deacon, 267. 

Farrer, Jonathan, 420. 

Faxon, , 413, 549; Ann, 156; 

Asaph, 627; Azariah, 392, 410, 413, 
419,591,628; Benjamin, 237; Caleb, 
82, 404, 628; Edward, 410; Francis, 
408, 412; Henry H., 73, 156, 175,283; 
Horatio N., 447; Isaiah, 408; James, 
39, 89, 156, 379, 405, 409, 624, 628; J. 
& H. H., 603; Job, 156, 237; J. 
Franklin, 443; John, 73, 434; Josiah, 
422; Mrs., 241; Relief, 1.56; Richard, 
156, 374, 4(54; Thos., 45, 46, 47, 380, 
442, 543, 545, 546, 562,566; William, 
443; William L., 310,445. 

Feakes, Lieut., 19, 20. 

Feltis, Asa W., 442; Wm. H., 440. 

Fenno, Jesse, 96, 238, 628; Samuel, 
422; William, 539. 

Fenton, Michael, 447; Thomas, 375, 
558. 



INDEX TO NAME8. 



647 



Fell wick, Bishop. 148. 278. 
Fernahl, Ichabod N., 533. 
Fessenden, Renjaniin.SoS; Jonatliaii, 

373, 375, 408, 412, 418. 
Ffurr, Old, 558. 
Fidelia (Slave), 259. 

Field, Benjamin, 60, 134, 625; Debo- 
rah, 134; Ebenezer. 60, 232,233, 406 
412, 625; Ephraim, 405; George H. 
442; Harvey, 332; Henry. 418, 422 
Jackson, 60, 40<i, 412, 501,' 625; Ja.o. 
60, 430, 625; Job. 418, 420, 421. 425 
John, 406, 412: Jo.seph, 60, 134, 240, 
40(i, 412, 625; Lemuel, 406, 407, 415 
Mehitable, 134; Mr. 370; Rev. T. 
263; Samuel, 625; William, 38, 60 
233, 406, 412, 418, 518, 625; William 
A 44(1 

Filcher, Lieut., 1, 2. 

Fillmore, Millard, 303. 

Fisher, C, 335; Jo.shua, 36. 472; Josi- 
ah, 128; Mehitable, 128, 244; Mr., 
326, 327; R. H., 440; Samuel, 558. 

Fiske, Ann, 116, 217; John, 205, 209; 
Moses, 114, 11(5. 204, 205, 206, 207, 
209, 211, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 245, 
285, 338, 542, 558; Mr., 173, 224; Sa- 
rah, 116, 205. 

Fitz2;erald, Michael, 443. 

Fitzpatrick, , 279. 

Fitzsimmons, Rev. T. 276, 277. 

Flaherty, William, 444. 

Flanders, , 518. 

Flatman. Thomas, 16, 74, 558. 

Flemming:, Garrett, 447. 

Fletcher. Frederick, 447; Joseph, 442. 

Flint (Flynt), Rev. Henry, x, xiii, 
13, 30, 31. 68, 114, 116, 194, 195, 201, 

202, 203, 245, 339, 340, 538, 539, 558; 
Jacob, 152; Rev. Jacob, 91,92, 93; 
Rev. Mr., 224; Rev. Josiah, x, 201, 

203, 204, 541; Margery, 116, 203, 340, 
341; Tutor, x, xi. xii. 

Flucher. Thomas. 480, 481. 

Flynn, Joseph, 447; William, 447. 

Foley, Thomas, 453, 468. 

Folk'tt, George, 518; Wm. H., 446. 

Folsom, Levi G.. 109. 

Fontrey, Francis, 416. 

Forbes! Robert B. , 308. 

Ford, Joseph, 558; William, 407, 415. 

Foster, ,470: Asa, 376; Goodman, 

558; Greenleaf P.,447; Joseph C, 

294; Thomas. 28. 
Fo^vle, Jacob, 89, 625, 
Fox, Samuel, 269. 
France, Col., 411. 
Francis, John, 558. 
Franklin, Benjamin, 377; John, 474, 

475, 476, 477. 
Frary, Lucian H. , 288. 
Fratincis, Jim, 461. 
Frederick, Eleazer, 38, 73, 508, 518; 

George, 508; John, 508; William, 

508; & Field, 512, 518. 
Freeborn, William, 188. 
Freeman, Cornwallis, 422; Samuel, 

177. 



French, , 404, 409; Abraham, 420; 

Adam, 374, 375; Adonijah, 411,414, 
415; Ahav,408,410, 416; Alexander, 
373; Alp'heus, 303; Asa, 180; Benj. 
405,408; Benjamin V., 578; Caleb, 
405, 410, 413, 420. 422; Caroline, 
578; Daniel, 107, 109, 174, 175, 178, 
179,237,305,403. 408, 413, 428, 433, 
434: Daniel F., 440, 44(5 ; David, 375; 
Dejiendence, JW, 501, .548; Dora, .341; 
Ebeii. 408, 413, 422; Elijah, 374, 404, 
416, 420; Elinor, 124; Eunice V., 
57H; E Thomas, 414; Father, 276; 
Francis W., 442; George H., 174, 
175; Gideon, 408, 410, 422, 529; 
Grace, 118; Jacob, .373, ,375, 376; 
John, 16, 28, 'M, 118, 124, 411, 501, 
548,549; Jonathan, 39, 428; Jo.seph, 
14(?, 410, 413. 414, 416, 508; Joshua, 
374, 403, 40S, 413, 414, 421 ; Josiah, 
346, 405, 409; Jotham, 421; Lewis 
E., 442, 443; Mo.ses, 39, 390, 40St, 413, 
418, 428, B7H, 627; Nathaniel, 405, 
409, 413, 418, 421, 422; Nehemiah. 
374,403; Reuben. 405, 408; Samuel, 
210, 213, 214, 215,216, .374; Seth, .374, 
.376; Theodore, 421; Thomas, .34, 
299, 300. .301, 40;{, 409, 414, 428; Tim- 
othy. 373, 375, 403, 407. 409, 415, 418; 
Washington M., 7H, 149; William, 
29<t, 300: Zenas, 414, 418, 422; Z. 
Aaron, .354. 

Frieze, Jacob, 407, 410, 415. 

Frigugliefti. Rev. Francis 278. 

Frizzell, John, 540, 5.18. 

Frost, Charles. 444; Geo., 412; Phebe, 
468. 

Frothinghain, N. L., 224. 

Furiiald, Alonzo, 440. 



I Gage, Gov., .388; Lsaiah, 37. 
Gallop, Nathaniel, 375; 
Gannett, Charles E., 440; Ezra S., 

224,227; Joseph, .55K. 
>/Gardiner, David, 421: Robert, 420. 
Gardner, Henry J, 610,611; William, 

109. 
Garing, ,!ohn, 16, .558. 
Garrity, Bernard, 444; Patrick, 605. 
Gaston, William, (ill. 
Gatliffe, Thomas, .543, 545, 546. 558. 
Gay, Heiijamin, 432, 433; David, 373; 

Ebenezer V., (JO. (!25; Henrv A.. 

605; Henrv F, 430; Henry t, 60, 

625; Jotham, 375; Oliver, 253, 416; 

Rev. Mr., 223. 
Gear, D. L., 151. 

Gee, , 37. 

Gent, John, .5.5.S. 

George, John, (Indian John,) .364,3(i.5, 

366, 3(i7; Simon S., (Indian,) 552; 

Samuel. 373. 
Gerry, Klbridge, <Hi. !t7, 9K, (iOtt. 
Gezer, Earnestian, 478. 
Gibbons, Ambro.^f. .■)42; Edward, 19, 

.3()1,;«)3, .-i42, 543. .'VW, .".45; George 

M.,241. 



648 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Gibson, Edward J., 447; George W., 
440, 44fi; J., 507. 

Gififord, John, 468, 469, 470. 

Gilbert, Thoma.s, 28. 

Gile, Siuniiel, 287. 

Gile.s, James, .558. 

Gilker, John, 558. 

Gill, George L., 180, 443; Moses, 609; 
Thomas, 375. 

Gillett, Simon, 526. 

Gleiison, Benjamin, 374; Joseph, 406. 

Glom, John, 558. 

Glover, Benjamin, 1.32; Ebenezer, 60, 
62, 82, 131, 1.32. 625; Edward, 238; 
Eli.sha, 60, 130, 1.32, 412, 449, 625; 
Eliza, 132; Elizabeth, 130, 131; 
Enoch. 628; Esther, 131; Ezra, 1.31, 
238,334,412,628; Horatio N.,241, 
332; James M., 82; John, 21, 66, 69, 
70, 1.30, 131, 4.30, .')36, 605, 625; John 
J., 55, 68, 72, .334; Josiah, 60, 62, 82, 
132, 433, 449, 625; T.ewi.s, 421, 
425; Mary, 131, 132; Nathaniel, 60, 
131, 241, 430, 625; Nathaniel E., 
440; Polly, 132, 238; Samuel K., 
406; Sarah, 131; Sophia J., 132; 
Thomas, 130, 131; William, 60, 131, 
132,625; William B., 442; William 
434, 439. 

Glovd, Jacob, 413, 418. 

Goffe, William, 540, 541. 

Gold, Car)t 395. 

Goldie, Henry F., 444. 

Goldthwaite."C. H., 350, 

Goldwaite, .Jacob, 373, :575. 

Gooch, James, 40!t; John, 409, 418; 
Joseph, 1()7, 369, .370, 1^71, 379, 403, 
484, 554, .564; William, 422. 

Good, Francis, 558. 

Goodridge, J. C, 269. 

Goodwin, William, .30.3, 

Gookins, Daniel, 197. 

Gordon, Geory;e W., 611. 

Gore, Christopher, 609. 

Gorton, Samuel, 15, 16, 17. 

Gould, (Goole), Francis, ,558; Gard- 
ner, 426; J. B., 269; Thomas, 420. 

Goursias, John M., 146. 

Graham, John R., 171, 600, 602. 

Grame, Samuel, 28. 

Grand V, James, 416. 

Grant,' Ulysses S. , 180. 

Graves, Ephraim, 375; John, 5.58. 

Grav, Benjamin, 449; Rev. Dr., 243; 
William I)., IKi. 

Grayner, Martin, 4<Sl. 

Green, Ebenezer, 2.38; James. 241, 
449; John, 529; John A., 108. 179, 
325, .529, 530; Jonathan. .374, 375; 
M. Elizabeth, 530; & Prescott, 530. 

Greonhill, William. 453, 469. 

Greenleaf, Daniel, 78, 96, 106,2.36. 237, 
238,244; Elizabeth, 2:^6; Heirs, 38; 
John, 2;',6, 240, 241, 491; Lncv, 240, 
241; Mary, 237; Nancy. 240; Stephen 
240; Tho'mas, (i7, 101^ 102, 106, 236, 
237, 2;i.S, 210, 242, 243, 264, 344, 433, 
579, 597; William, 240. 



Greenlier, Jolin, 5.58. 

Greenough, William, 55; William W., 
579. 

Gregory, John, 79, 80, 81, 260, 261, 433, 
434; J. H , 437. 

Grenville, Mr., 377. 

Grid ley, Rich.ard, 187. 
i Griggs, Humphrey, 16, 558. 
I Grinnell, Jo.seph, .508. 
I Gri.se, Charles, 558. 
I Griswold, A. V.,256. 

Grosse, Isaac, 188. 

Grove, John, 558. 
I Grows, John, 558. 

Gulliver, Cato, 422; Rufus, 422; Sam- 
uel, 558. 

Gunnison, Hugh, 28, 187. 

Gurnev, (Girnev), Elijah, 407, 410, 
411, 415; John, 5.58; Thomas, 412. 

Gutridge, Robert, 558. 



Habersham, James, 558. 

Hackett, William, 493. 

Hahatum, Old, (Indian), 45, 47. 

Haiford, John, 558. 

Hails, Abbv I., 352. 

Hall, ,1.52,349; James, 146, 147, 

148, 237, 238, 278, 4.30; James E., 
265; Job, 411; John, 60, 85, 87, 90, 
92, 102, 115, 133, 238, 391, 406, 418, 
425, .599, 62.5, 629; John O., 262; 
Luther, 411; Sarah, 133. 

Hallett, Benjamin F., 610. 

Halley, James, 277. 

Hallowell, Benjamin, .374. 

Hament, Timothy, 376. 

Hamilton, Alexander, 574. 

Hatumond, Charles, 442; William 
B.,288. 

Hampton, Maj. Gen., 592. 

Hancock, Ebenezer, 218, 219, 407, 410, 
415; John, (Rev.), ix, xiii, 79, 117, 
194, 195, 202, 217, 218, 219, 220, 223, 
228, 233, 245, 251, 339, 342, 558, 580; 
John, (Gov.), 61, (52, 86, 117, 218, 
219, 220, 272, 342, 420, 424, 489, 490, 
499, 523, 580, 581, 582. 583, 609; John 
(}. W., .582; Marv, 218, 580. 

HarV)or, John, 3(>7, 558. 

Harder, Isaac, 416. 

Hardier, Richard, 547, 558. 

Hardings, Jonathan, 558; Robert, 188. 

Hard man, Jolin, 558. 

Hardwick, (Hartwick), Adam, 241, 
430,4X0; Charles, 430, 625; Charles 
H., 38; C. H. .« Co., 518; Eliza- 
beth, 478; Frederick, 60, 102, 106, 
238, 264, 339, 340, 4;50, 433, 442, 505. 
601, 602, 625; Frederick Philip, 480; 
Henrv, 60, 1()6, 239, 325, 430, 480, 
()0;<, 625; John, :tt2, 479, 480; John 
Peter, 480; Peter, 59, 625; Philip, 
480; W. P. & J. M.,602. 

Hardy, Benjamin, 442. 

Haremau, Nathaniel, 16. 

Harmon, William, 628. 

Harlar, John, 28. 



INDKX TO NAMES. 



649 



Harper, Joseph, 558. 
Harriman, William, 404. 
Harrington, Leonard 15., 447. 
Harris, John L., 437; Richard, 5.58; 

Th;uldensISI.,224, 302. 
Har.«krthin, C'hristian S., 478. 
Haskell, Thomas, 89, 625. 
Hassfttt, John, 28. 
Hastings, Jonathan, 177; John, \C>, 

558; William, 444. 
Hasty, David S., 533. 
Hathaway, George B., 444; Nicholas, 

2!l. 
Hatman, Thomas, 558. 
Haven, Rohert, 29. 
Hawes, Samuel, 373. 
Hawke, Mary, 218. 
Hawkins, James 29; Thomas, 29. 
Hayden, (Hoyden,) (Hoidon,) 171; 
Ahel, 427, 429, 430, 025; Alexander, 
404; A mi nadah, 404,421,422; Anon, 
(i27; Arthur L., 443; Rartlett, 442; 
Reniamin, 39, 157, 328, :i91, 392, 428, 
027 ■ Caleb, 00, 408, 409, 429, 025; 
Clement, 374, 375, 404; Cyrus, 408, 
410; Daniel, 375, 370,408,421; David 
370; Ebenezer, 125, ^CA, 410; Eh, 
4113; Elijah, 374; Elisha, 373, 375, 
429- Enoch, 370, 405, 408, 41H, 420, 
421; George L., 440; Henry, 412; 
Isaac, 375; Jacob, 408, 412, 415, 422; 
Jonathan, 247, 501, 535; John, 412, 
535,540; Joseph, 212, 405, 410; Jo- 
siah, 332, 308; Levi, 415; Lewis, 3:«, 
420, 422; Nathaniel, 407, 410, 412, 
41 .")' 4''0, 421 , 429, ()25 ; N eheniiah, 'M , 
57 208, 210, 213, 214, 210, 28.5, 411, 
452, 548, 550; Richard, 370; Richard 
R 447; Rohert, 404, 405, 409, 413, 
418; Samuel, 251, 3(14, 449; Solomon, 
449; Stephen, 400, 40S, 41(); Susan- 
na 535; William, 230, 374, 404, 411, 
410, 421, 422; Zebra, 405, 409, 413, 
410i 418, 422, 425. 
Hayes, Rresident, 5iKi. 
Havnes, Aaron, 289; J. V 200. 
Hayward, Aaron, 403; Abraham, 410; 
\dam, 410; Rarnabas, 411; Ren.ia- 
niin 403,409; Reuoni, 403, 409, 410; 
Caleb, 413; Daniel, 404, 405, 408 
410,411,42(1; Daniel 1*., 157; David 
V 409,413; Ebenezer, 1.57, 177,414; 
Ellas, 180; Elizabeth, 157; Jame.^ 
420 025; John, 1.57, 170. 384, 498; 
Jonathan, 34, 118, .320; Joseph, 374, 
.391 403,409; Joi^hua, 403; Lois, 1.57; 
Obadiah, 422; Ritdiard, 28; Ruth, 
118- Samuel, 414; Sarah, 118; Silas, 
408- Simeon, 409; Thoma.s, 407, 410, 
411, 415, 41(), 421, 422; Zcba, 40.5, 409; 
Zebulon, 403, 404, 407, 409, 415. 
Heath, J. G. R., 202; Willi.un, .MO, 9(., 

97, 100, 009. 
Heines, Abraham, .5.58. 
Hennessy, .fohn, 444. 
Henshaw, William, 422. 

Hepworth, , 227. 

Herdin, John, 558. 

83 



Herrick, Gideon, 422. 
Hersey, ,421; David, 422; Reu- 
ben,' 421; Thomas, .375. 
Hetherston, Martin, 448. 
Hevens, William, 373. 
Hewes, Joshua, 4.54; Nathaniel, 538. 
Hewstead, Robert, 29. 
Hickok, Charles H., 282; Wm., 453. 
Higjiins, Daniel, .5.58; Samuel, 209. 
HifC'lonathan, 410. 
Hilt, J(din,4Sl. 
Hilton, Edward, 8. 
Hincklev, Ebenezer, 5.58; Ehphalet, 

.370; William, XH. 
Hitchcock, Calvin, 291. 
Hoar. I/3onard. 113, 120. 
Hobart (Hobard. Huborff), Adam, 
405, 409, 413. (127; Henjamin, 35; 
Caleb, 34. 41,. 54, 123, 20H, 231. 308, 
410, 548, .503, 027; Daniel, 10.3, 240; 
Elizabeth, 123; .fohn, 405, 408, 410; 
Joshua, 123, 408,410.41.3,027: Jo- 
siah, 34; Nathaniel. 410, 422; Nehe- 
miah. 200; Peter, .373, .37.5, 025; S.am- 
uel, 59, 421, 422, 010, 025; William, 
375, ,370, 405, 408. 
Hodges, Joseph, .375. 
Hodgkin.son, Michael, .523. 
Hoffenborn, J(tbn, 307. 
Hogg, Richard, 2!t. 

Holbrook, (^aleb. 159; David, 1.59,410, 
413,418; Kbenezer. 420; Elisha N., 
2!M); Ichabod, 40.5, 408, 027; James, 
410, 413, 027; John, 413, 418, 4.5.3, 
4()4, 471, 027; Jouatban, 1.59, 404, 
40.5' 409, 027; Lieut, .'580; Lydia, 
.595; I»Iarv. 027; Moses, 1.59, ()27; 
Mr , .549;" Nathan. 412; Nathaniel, 
40H, 418; Nebemiah. 410, 413, 027; 
Sauuiel, (!27; Silas, 405,420; Thom- 
as, :U, 07, .304, 40S, 410, .549, .595. 
HoldoM, Henry A., 447; John O., 179; 

Randall, 1.5. 
Holland, .lames, 421; John, 09. 
Hollis, Uarnabas, 40H; Renjauiiu, 411. 
412- Daniel. 00,405.408; David, 410; 
Isaac, 414. 410. 421, 428; Jedediah, 
2M; -lohn, .'54, 374, 404, .595, 02:'., 027 ; 
Jouatban, 375; Nathaniel, 405; Sam- 
uel. 98; Silas. 405, 408.418; Simeon, 
407 415; Steidieu. 410; Thomas. 375, 
.370, 40.5, 409, 413, 418, 511, 517, 518, 
.595, 027. 
Holmes, Almoran, .508; Elmer W., 
.532; Naaman R., 72. 523, 525; Sam- 
uel, 412: Z('buUm,373. 
Holt, Albert. 1.52. 
Hooper. J. (i., 437. 
Hope, Hcmy, .584, 585, 580; Isa.ac, 

477; Zachery, 477. 
Horgau, John, 447. 

Horttni, (Houuhton), I>avid, .375; 

Ebenezer, .5,58; Enoch. t^O, 025; Isaac, 

413 41.M, 422; Lemuel. 422; Lloyd 

G., 439; Samuel, 422; William, 422. 

Hough, (Haulsh), Athertou, 12, 24, 

25, 45, 1S.3, 184, :K)8. 
Houston, Sanuiel, 437. 



650 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Howard, Aaron, 414; Adam, 373; Be- 
noui, 414; Hepzibah, 292; James, 
60, 418, 426; Joshua. 41S; Noah, 
374; Samuel, 212; Simeon, 414; Zeb- 
ulon, 411, 412, 414. 

Howe, (How), Gen., 596; James B., 
255; Reginald H., 248, 256; Timo- 
thy, 558 

Howell, Luke, 420. 

Howland, William 0.,442. 

Howley, Michael J., 442. 

Hubbard, John, 452, 462, 463, 471; 
Nathaniel, 4(;3. 563. 

Hudson, , 67; George, 416, 

Hughes, James, 447. 

Hull, John, 356, 453, 471, 472; Robert, 
187. 

Humphreys, John, 437. 

Hunne, George, 29. 

Hunneman & Co., 76. 
\Hunt, — , 499; Adam, 407, 415; 
Anthony, 495, 408, 414, 422, 625; 
Benjamin, 875, 411, 412; Caleb, 409, 
413; Charles N., 440, 445; Daniel, 
374; Ebenezer, 98, 422; Eliphaz, 
411; Epbfaim 374, 403, 408, 463; 
Gideon, 420; I.<aac, 420; Jacob. 403: 
John, ,374, 408. 410, 420, 421 ; Jo.seph, 
60, 330, 331,625; Josiah,409; Laban, 
420; Lemuel, 422; Nathan, 430; 
Nathaniel, 404, 409, 411, 412. 414, 
415, 420; Simnel, 374, 412, 420, 422; 
Seth, 414, 420, 422; William, 167, 564. 

Hunter, George, (Indian), 552; John, 
403. 

Hunting, Daniel, 409. 

Huntoon, Rev. Mr., 224. 

Hurd, I,saac,596; John, 29; Luke, 89, 
625. 

Hutchiugs, John, 625. 

Hutchinson, Ann, 182, 183, 186, 193, 
543; Edward, 36, 37, 187; Edward, 
Jr., 29, 31; Mr., 484, 553; Richard, 
187; Thomas, 372; William, 11, 12, 
23, 24, 25, 187, 188, 193. 

Huxford, Daniel H.,533. 



Indian, John, 364, 365, 366, 367. 

Ingersoll, , 377. 

In man, Samuel, 558. 
Irons, Samuel, 558. 
Ivers, Timothy, 442. 



Jackson, Andrew, 436; Edward, 480; 

John, 29; Rev. Mr., 218. 
James, Brothers, 493; Mr., 196; Wil- 

liMui, 240, 44!). 
Jameson, Charles H., 440; Jonathan, 

109, 518. 
Jefferson, Thomas, 344, 573. 

Jeffrey, , 8; Patrick, 628. 

Jenkins, Horace, 334; Oliver, 237. 303; 

William, 89, 625. 
Jepson, John, 29. 
Jewell, (Juel), 29, 558. 



s/ 



Jewett, Ebenezer, 109, 264; Paul, 287; 
William, 287. 

John, Sagamore, (Indian), 48. 

Johnson," Albion H., 289; Asa S.,> 
146; Capt., 364; Catherine. 140; Dr., 
254; Edward 543; Francis M., 73; 
Ichabod, 137; James, 187; John, 
193, 200, 437; Jonathan, 442; Joshua, 
140, 574; Louisa Catherine, 574; 
Samuel, 416; Samuel R., 510, 517; 
William, 442, 444. 

Joice, (Joist, Joyce), Edwin L., 440, 
447 ; Seth, 89, 625. 

Jones, Abraham, 412; Benjamin, 416; 
Edward, 374; Ephraim, 558; Geo., 
443; Jacob, 422; Jo.seph, 532; Peleg 
F., 493, 495; Samuel. 37(), 409, 413, 
422, 428; William, 447. 

Jordan, Barash, 376; John, 403, 409, 
413; Samuel, 376. 

Josephs, Freeman, 440; Levi B., 260, 
603; Uriel, 447. 

Josselyn, Nathan. 236, 493, 495; Rob- 
ert, 440. 

Joy, Jacob, 420; Samuel, 375. 

Jusee, Peter, 558. 

Jyans, Matthews, 187. 



Kash, Godfrey, 484. 

Keating, Albert, 440, 446; Peter, 239. 

Keayne, (Kean, Keene), Benjamin, 

29; Robert, 187. 
Keenan, Matthew, 447. 
Kehoe, John, 447. 

Keith, Harrison A., .340; Solomon, 411. 
Kelly, James, 447; John, 447: 
Kellev, Samuel, 269, 270. 
Kendall, Rev. Mr., 95; William, 41(!. 
Kennedy, James, 444. 
Kennison, George F., 442. 
Kent, Richard, 5.58. 
Kettell, Rebecca, 349. 
Keyahgun.son, Thomas, (Indian), 47. 
Kibber, Charles L., 444. 
Kidby, Lewis, 29. 
Kidder, William, 518. 
Kimball, Howard M., 440. 
King, Ebenezer, 558; John, .375; Phil- 
ip, (Indian), 359, 36(). 
Kingley, John, 548, 558. 
Kingman, Alexander, 418; Henry, 67; 

James, 409, 411, 413; Joseph, 428; 

Thomas, 404. 
Kingsbury, David, 437. 
Kingsley, (Kinsley), Samuel, 558; 

Stephen, 16, 29, 67, 74, 158, 194, 459, 

558 562. 
Kirby, Wilham T., 442. 
Kirkley, William, 29. 
Kirtlaud, Philip, 323; Susanna, 323. 
Kittridgo, Josiah N., 447. 
Kneelaud, John, 421. 
Knowles, Mr., 196, 197. 
Knox, Daniel M. C, 508; John C, 

508. 
Kutshanuikin, (Indian), see Ciitsha- 

mokin. 



/ 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



651 



Labaree, John C, 291. 
Labonchere, Herirv, 585. 
Lamb, John, 54.S, 558; Thomas, 212. 
Lambert, (Lambart), Joseph, 374; 
^lajor, 5.51>. 

Lambton, , 247. , 

Lamont. Robert, 558. 
Lani.'son, Ebenezer,55S, 559; John H., 
440. 

I^ane, ,420; Eli, 421; Levi, 420; 

R. & C. , 334, 335. 
Lansdon, Rev. Mr., 223. 
Langne, Louis, 416. 
Lapham, Frederick A., 440; George 
Y 447; Joseph A., 440; William, 
H.' H., 440, 441,447. 
Larkin, John, 440. 
Larrabee, Benjamin, 167. 
Lathrop. Samuel, 610. 
Lawless, Richard, 447. 
Lawrence, Amos, 105, 505; Amos A., 

611. 
Leader, Richard, 466, 467, 468. 
Leahy, Michael, 442. 
Lear, Christopher, 416. 
Leavitt, (Levit), Charles F., 447; Dan- 
iel, 5.59. ^, ... 
l>ee, Jesse, 268; John, 422; Philip, 

411; Samuel, 376. 
Leech, Isaac, 411 ; Samuel, 411. 
Lefavour, Amos, 292. 
I^garee, Daniel, 229, 558; Francis, 

285. 
Lelton, John, 416. 

Leonard, , 169: Daniel, 508; Hen- 
ry, 469, 470; John, 469; John B., 
289; Silas, 259, 200, 3:^4. 
Litherland, William, 187. 
Letton, John, 416. 
Leuobars, Robert B., 72. 
Leveret, Dep. Gov., 205. .361. 
Lewis, Jacob, 481. 

Lincoln. Abraham, 180, .577: Benja- 
min, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406; Charles 
K., 444: Jacob, 421; L.,.375; Levi, 
''43, 609, 610; Lvdia N., 495; Perez, 
.595; Thomas W., 442. 443. 
Lines, Polly, 292. 

Linfield, David, 403, 404, 409, 413; 
Niithaniel, 404; Samuel, 404, 413; 
William, .34, 161, 404, 40it, 413, 414, 
418. 
Linnehan, William, 444. 
Lippett, E. R., 255. 
Li.sconie, Daniel, 559. 
Li.sle, Francis, 29. 
Litchfield, Liba, 443. 
Little, James L. , 310. 
Littlefield, Aaron, 292, 410, 412 
mnnd, 161, .374; Meribah, 
Micah, 292; Moses, 376, 403, 409, 
410,412; Nathaniel, 161; Samuel, 
208. 
Lloyd, James, .575, 610. 
Tjocke, George H., 146. 
Loinar, William, 444. 
Lombard, Joseph W., 442. 
Long, John, 146. 



Ed- 
292 • 



Longfellow, Stephen, 98. 

Long worthy. Rev. Mr., 266. 

Loriiig, Daniel, 62H. 

Lothrop, S. K., 227. 

Lournev, Dennis, 444. 

Lovell,"(Lovewell), Daniel, 29; Gen., 
420; James, 404; John, 413,416, 421 ; 
Joseph, 374; Samuel, 420; Silas, 374, 
408, 410, 421. 

Lowe, .John, 29. 

Lowell, Rev. Dr., 243; Thomas, 559. 

Lucas, (Luchas), Capt. 70; Henry, 
248. 

Ludden, Benjamin, .57. 368, 405, 408, 
415, .501 ; lieza or Bizer, 408, 411. 
412,415: Eli, 404, 405, 406; Joseph, 
558; Hezekiah, 376, 403; Lemuel, 
413; Levi, .377; Nathaniel, 403, 407, 
411, 415, 422; Samuel. 412, 420; 
Silas, .373; Sylvanus, 405, 408, 411, 
412; Thomas," 404. 

Ludkin, George, .5.58. 

Ludlow, Roger, 20. 

Lufkin. I.saac, 421. 

Lngg, John, 29. 

Lunt, Abbv W., 117; Henry, 446; 
Theodore H.. 448; William P., ix, 
02, 79^ 11.5, 117. 140, 141, 181, 19.5, 
"04 205 219, 221, 22J, 225, 227, 240, 
245^ 308, 43:'., ilU, 587, .594. 
Lusher, Eieazer, 70, 200. 
Luzarder, Joseph M., 447. 
Lycett, James, 44K. 
I Lyde, Bytield, 375. 
! Lynde, Symon, 545. 
I Lynes, Daniel, 416; William, 416. 
j Lyons, John S. , 518. 



MacEwan, William, .53.3. 

Madan, Abigail, 292; Jojin, 292. 

Madison, James, ;>19, .575. 

Mainard, Pear, 416. 

Maley, Melville, 444. 

Maloney, David. 444. 

Mamuntago. Robert, (Indian), 45,47. 

M.Tun, (Man), Benjamin, 292, 409, 414, 
Ephraim, 403, 412: Hannah, 292; 
Horace, 315, 61(1, t)19; Joseph, 376, 
411, 412, 420; Louisa, 292; Polly, 
292; Samuel, 412, 418; Seth, 292, 
403, 409. 412. 

Manning, John, 447; Michael. 448. 

Manunion, Josi'|di, (Indian), 47; Wil- 
liam, (Indian), 45, 47. 

Marble, Luther, 50H. 

March, John, 212. 

Marchent, E., 53.H. 

Marden, Frank M., 440. 

Marquand, Peter, 144, 
5.5il; Sarah, 144; Zachariah, 38. 

Marque, Peter I' , 440, 447. 

Marrain, .lohn, 415. 

Marsh, ,171; Abigail, 134; Am- 

1 brose, 134,1.35; Anna, i:i5; Alexan- 
der, l.U, 13(i, 240, 458, 459, 547, 548, 
563, 566; ('has., 136, 603; Edmund, 
239: Edwin W., 82, 603; Elisha, 



248, 249, 550, 



652 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



100,135,239, 302, 449, 520; Emily, 
13f); P:. & J., 520; George, 520; 
John, 240; Jonathan, 59, 134, 135, 
13fi, 241, 303, 400, 412, 520, G25; Jo- 
seph, 117, 215, 2in, 217, 218, 245, 338, 
340, 590; Lucy, 239; Mary, 573; Mi- 
riam, 134; Moses, 373, 375; Moses 
R., 239; M. R. & E., 603; Patience, 
130; Samuel, 374; Sophia, 135, 130; 
Susannah, 135, 130; William, 400; 
Wilson, 00, 134, 135, 130, 239, 240, 
241,370,520,025; Wilson & Sons, 
520. 

Marshall, J. P. C, 443; John, xiii, 
34, 123, 205, 200, 211, 233, 559; Jos., 
410; Mary, 123; Samuel, 324; Ste- 
plien, 123; Thomas, 33, 187, 410, 414. 

Marstons, Miss .341. 

Martin, Amhrose, 4.37; John W., 440; 
Lot, 437; Rohert, 67; Samuel 517, 
518. 

Ma.son, , 412; Aaron, 2.".S. 

Massey, (Mas.se), Kdwanl, 88; Ene- 
mond, 270; Jolin, 410. 

Mather, Cotton, 88, 191, 199, 300, 3(!1, 
307. 

Matignon, Father, 274, 275. 

Matson, Thos., 13, 30, 31, 74, 1,S8, 559. 

Matthews, Jjyman, 288. 

Mattoon, Ehenezer, 98. 

Maud.sley, Henrv, Ki, 29, 5.59. 

Maul, \V. K., 282. 

May, Elisha, 98. 

Mayhevv, Jonathan, 223. 

Maynard, (Mainard), Lambert, 174; 
Peter, 41(). 

Mayo, James, 237; Lucinda, 237. 

MciJarty, John, 443. 

McDaniela, James, 89. 

Mc(iann, John, 448; Thomas W., 
447. 

McGlone, Michael, 447. 

McGovern, John, 447. 

McGrath, John, 444. 

Mcintosh William, 418. 

McKean, , 2J4. 

McKendrick, Michael, 140. 

McKnight, William, 443. 

McRee, William, 592. 

Mead, Elisha, 603; William, 59; Wil- 
liam P., 025. 

Mears, (Mearsh), James, 175; (Jeorge, 
59, 478, 559, 025. 

Meekins, (Meedyns), Thomas, 10, 29, 
538, 559, 502. 

Mekusett, Modica, 559. 

Mellows, Oliver, 187. 

Merchant, John, 29. 

Merritt, N. T., 531; Richard, 422. 

Meserve, W. P. F., 175, 442. 

Mcservey, Benjamin F. , 440, 441, 44.5, 
440. 

Messer, Charles E., 448. 

Metcalf, Stephen, 80. 

Millard, Thomas, 29. 

Miller, Charles E., 140, 252, 442; Eb- 
enezer, 59, 01, 85, 87, 89, 145, 247, 
248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 254, 410, 490, 



/] 



559, 025, 029; Edward, 100, 237, 331, 
333,309,370,375, 379, 380, 381, 389; 
Hannah, 237; Jonathan, 429; Mar- 
tha, 146; Mr. 195,196; Rebecca, 145; 
Samuel, 38, 145, 249, 450, 464, 472. 

Mills, John) 29, 105, 160, 208, 210, 215, 
233, 327, 309, 379, 400, 539, 559, 563, 
564; William, 408. 

Milton, Benjamin, 408; Ephraim, 410; 
Robert, 403, 421. 

Mingo, (Slave), 549. 

Mitchell, Charles R., 150; John, 298; 
William, 444. 

Molloy, George, 444. 

Moloney, Thomas 443. 

Monk, Daniel, 434; Robert, 440, 441. 

Monroe, James, 575, see Munroe. 

Montague, Mary W., 88. 

Moody, David, 105; Levi W., 72; Rev. 
R. B., 289. 

Moore, (Moor), Charles W., 305; John, 
29, 559; -John W., 262. 

Morgan, William, 303. 

Morley, John, 53!», 559. 

Moriartv, Dennis, 447. 

Morrison, Dr. J. H., 227. 

Morrain, John, 407. 

Morris, Lewis, 24{i. 

Mor.se, Hazen, 243; Rev. Dr., 173; 
Robert, 73; Stephen Jr., 443; Wil- 
liam, 200. 

Morton, George W., 44(!; Joseph W., , 
440, 448; Marcus, 610; Nathaniel, 
100; Salmon, 502; Thomas, 2, 5, 7, 
9, 17, (>3, 524, 542; William S., 72, 
501. 

Moshier, A. J. & Co., 518. 

Moss, William, 559. 

Mos.sett, Thomas, 559. 

Mott, Nathaniel, 303, 559. 

Mottram, Thomas, 14(). 

Mountjoy, George, 323,559; Mary, 323. 

Mower, William, 29. 

Muirson, George, 247. 

Mulford, John, 004. 

Mullen, Andrew, 444; William, 443, 
559. 

Muiin, Luther, 511, 517, 518. 

Munroe, Israel W., 149. 

Murch, James, 559. 

Murphy, Andrew, 443; James, 444; 
Michael, 444; Peter, 410. 

Murray, John, 259. 

Mycall, James, 559. 



Nahaton, William, (Indian), 45, 47. 

Nash, Benjamin, 373, .374, 375, 408, 
410,415; Daniel, 407, 415; David, 
410; Francis, 304; Jacob, 304, 377, 
404,405,408; James, 405, 408 ; John, 
443; John W., 443; Jonathan, 404; 
Moses, 407, 410, 411, 415; Samuel, 
374; William, 439, 603; Zadoc, 410, 
411. 

Neal, (Neale, Neil), Abigal, 376, 5.50, 
Benjamin, 35, 117, 212, 215, 233, 
464, 501, 548, 549, 552; Elijah, 374; 



INDEX TO NAMES, 



653 



Henry. 29, 45, fi7, 117, 5")!); .Tosoph, 
35, 57, 117, 2:W, 239; Mary, 117; Me- 
hitable, 117; Samuel, 34. 
Needliani (Meedam), John, "38, 559; 

\ViUiam, 14, 29, 45, 244, 559. 
Newbury, Mr,, 20. 
->, Newcoinb (Nufom), Abraham, 407, 
410, 411, 415. 428; Abram, fiO, 40!); 
lienianiin L., 442; Brotber.i. 517: 
liryaiit, 59, 238, 407. 410, 411, 415, 
421, 425, 442, 447, 515, 517, 518; Brv- 
aiit r.., 518; Charles, 5)0. 4ir,. 421. 
024,020; Charles F., 443; Charle.s 
H. S., 202; Charles O., 443; Eben- 
ezer, 00, 01, 412, 430, 020, 027; Fran- 
cis, 00, 121, 422, 535; Georire, 110; 
Goody, 549; Harrison G. O., 442; 
Henry A., 447; Isaac. .550; Isaac 
T., 448; James, 107, 108, 110. 511, 
518; Jeru.sha, 237; John, .35, .59, 97, 
171, 211. 285, 430. 449, 020; John A., 
200; John R., 59, 020; Jonathan, 
511, 517, 518; Malachi, .374; Mary, 
535; Micah. 410, 411; Mioaiah. 407, 
415; Oliver, 00, 400, 410, 412; Peter, 
34. 211, 370, 379, 3H0, 400, 407, 410, 
411, 415, 440, .548; Eachel, .5.35; Re- 
member, .59; Richard. -W, 020; Sam- 
uel, GO, 412. 511, 517, 518, .548; 
Samuel F, 442; Thaddens H., 439, 
440; Thomas, on, 381 , 390, .39.3, 400, 
407, 410, 411, 415, 422; William, 240; 
Winslow M., 002; & Cliapin, 518; 
& Richards, 517. 
Newell, William, 227. 
Newman (Numan), Mr., 220; Noah, 

559. 
Newton, Anthony, 29. 
Nichols, Grise, 559; John, 200; Jos., 
370. 

Nickersou. , 523. 

Ni'Thtinsale, Alonzo A., 440; Charles 
L., 440; Daniel, 00; Ehenezer. 00, 
85' ''33, 239, 414, 020; George, 230, 
449" Hannah, 125; John, 00, 80, 400, 
408*020; Jo.seph, GO, 125, 2.32, 374, 
370,380,020; Josiah, 238; Mehita- 
blo 241; Mo.ses, 518; RuLTRles, 020; 
Samuel, 00, 80. 580. 020; Samuel A., 
440 448; Sarah, 241; Solomon, 241, 
449; Thomas. 239; William, 34, 125, 
208.' .308, 370; Wyman B., 440. 
Niles, Ann, 1.54; BenjamiTi, 101, 208; 
Khenezer, 102, 376, 377, 403, 414; 
Eliiah, 418; Elislia, 380, .39.3, 422; 
p:iizabeth, 1.54; Enoch, 422; Ezra. 
.375; Hannah, 5^; Increase, :3<!4; 
T-aac, 403, 414; Jacob, 300, 302; 
James, 377, 40;{, 407, 409, 414, 415; 
Jane. .535: .lohn, 101, 102, 208, 374; 
.375 377, 403, 410, 414, 415, 422, .5X5 ; 
Jonathan, 375, 377; .Joseph, 374, 
.370 404, 410; .Joshua, 29!t; Nathan- 
iel KV2, 310, :;f)0, 403, 414; Peter, 
102 418; Samuel, 38, 40, 154, 1.55, 
100, 101, 102,208, 218, 221, 223, 28(), 
287, 321, 303, 370, :i81, .384, .504; Silas 
370'; William, 374. 



Nini-ret (Indian!, 3,59, .361, 363. 
Noistenns, Job (Indian), 45, 47. 
Noll, Henry, .559. 
Norton, Edward, 205; Jacob, 287, 

Madame, 233 
Nott, Francis L., 447. 
Noyes, (Novce), Daniel, 177; John, 

375,444; Oliver. 37; Samuel, 404; 

.5,59; William, .559. 
Nuttinir, Charles A., 440; Edward W. 

H., 440,442. 
Nye, Daniel P., 73. 



O'Beirne, Father, 277. 

Oberton, .Tames. .559. 

O'Brien. Michael, 442. 443; Thomas, 

295 
Odiorne. George, 123; Polly, 123. 
Odlin, John, 187. 
Offley, D., 29. 

Oliver, Daniel, 37; .Tohn, 187; Jona- 
than, 420; Thomas, 187, 372, 388. 
O'Neil, James. 442. 
Onion, .John, 29. 
Oroit. Beniamin, .5.59. 
Osborne, Edward B., 529; .Tohn, 449; 
William. 5.-.9. 
xl-'Otis. Harrison G., 275, 010; James, v^ 
^ 523, 581. 

Owen, Benjamin, .555; William, .5.59. 
Owens. Ehenezer. :iG4, .307 ; John, 443; 
Jo.siah. :«: N.athaniel. .34, 212; Row- 
land, 109; Thomas P., 442, 44.3. 
Oxenbridiie, Mr., 205. 



Packard, Abner B., 171. 4.39. 440, 445; 
Elisha. 4:<4; Henrv F., 447; Henry, 
T., 448; James, 409; Lucy, 1.30; Mor- 
ton, 440, 441, 448; William, 103, 1.30, 
501, 517, 518. 
Paddleford, ( Paddlefoot), Jonathan, 

34, :«;7. .55!). 
Pafflvn. John, 29, .5.39. 
Pase' Benjamin, 101, 108, .304, 449; 
Pattv, 89'. 

Paiiie,'(Pane, Payne), . 27; Benj.a- 

min, 407, 409, 411, 415, 421. .501; 
David.- .374; l<:iizalieth, .5;r.; Henry 
\V , Gil; Jacob, 374; John, .'U, .549; 
Jos. R., 370; Mary, 123, .5.X5; Moses, 
-. 13. 14, 31. 07, 123,'233, .324, .501, 5.39. 
.543, .545, 540, .549, .5.59, 562; Nathan- 
iel, .374, 40.3, 409, 412, 41.3, 415; Rach- 
el .349; Robert T., .390; Samuel, ^^ 
:U, 208. 210, 213, 214, 248, 249, 251, 
285 .548; Silas, 428; Sime(»n, 374; 
Stephen, (M!, V£i, 100, .37.5, 't'Mi: Zeba, 
428. 
Palfrev, John G.,01(). 
Palmer, Ann, .580; John, 31; Joseph, 
'>40 :W1 3.S4 .38.-., 391, 392, .393, 402, 
4(Vi' 412, 414, 4-':?, 424, 475, 470, 479. 
4.H(), 4H2, 48<;, 487, 48.S, 489, 4!K), 5<J4, 
.58(;; .Joseph P., .580. 
Paiiton, William, 7<;, 004. 
Pares, Judith. .580. 



(jnl 



INTDICX I'O NAMKK. 



Park, (JliiirloH, y.'fO; Kdwiird A , L'H7. 

I'it.rk((r, , (1(1, IHM, fi.Jd; OlniHc, it:i; 

l*'riui<ilM W., K'.); .lohii, IKt, 11(1; l.o 
roii/,(i I). ,117; MIhh, xi, xii; Uicli 
111(1, '.i'.l; 'rii(«nl(>rn, .'t.'i5; William, xi, 

:'.:;n, xn, ;t;i'.». 

I'liilirH, VVilliimi, 70, 

I'arldiiiiJi, li'r(w. I)r.,'22'l'. 

1'ii.i'iiiciil.iM', .loliii, ;t(i7, .li>H(t|ili, ;il, 

!',!!), 2i;i, '2;il, :i(il; Mr. ,517; i)iiiM'()ii 

ItolxM-l,, 'J'.!'.!, MH, M,\). 
I'luriH, Aliixiih(|(ir, 'Jl.'l; .Idliii, rM). 
I'lit'HoiiH, IOIi/,iilK^(,li, '.VSA; .)iiMii|>li, .'t'J.'l; 

i;,<)l)«il,, nnil; Sunmoi, :t2.'<; TlnM.plil- 

iiiH, r.7i, 
i"M,rro(i, vviiiiiiiii s., ii'.i, I/-.'.!, 

riil.lniHuii, I >aiiiol, t id; .J iiiikih, 1 1'.J, 
I'liiil, IIiikIi. IIi>; .IoIiii, H'.i 
I'll.VMitii, JoHiipli. 107. lO'.l, III, 'Un. 
I'oiiImmIv, a. I'., 'J.i7; CIiiiiIoh II., 

'^!t;t; Williiim A., iJllll. 
INicU, , (1(1, TiMd. 

I'lM'Jutr, .liuiKt.s.d'JH. 
I'nil, Williaih, |H7. 
roiin, .liiiiHm, '2;i :<;(; Willlain,5d, KKI, 

•1(W. 
' INuiniiiiaii, — , l(l(t; Aiiiasa., 'I2'i; 

M.^lliimr, r.!'.); MoniaH, 155; lOlMnm- 

•/,nr. lO'.l, Ilil.l-J'!; lOliliii, 105; Kiiooli, 
10'.), Ii;t; (iiMii'K'o, 517; (iooilinaii, 

5.111^ .JallH^H, II. 1,1. 155, IHH, •JH5, ;iHO, 

.■tHl, ;ti»:!, II'.). i':'., liH, 5;t7. 5;ih, 5Kl; 

.)\u^u^H 'I'., Lll, do;t; .loliii, '.!I'J, 'iHrt; 

.loH.'i.ii, .11, :ii. UK, 1'.".!, 1(1(1, ;i;t!),;id7, 

;t(lH, 5l,S, 5)17; MohIk^iiU. Ill ; Momc.m, 
I'.;;!, VJ'17. .'175; If.iiMi, 15(1; Saimiol, 
:M. *J:i;I, .TJO, .-ilH, 5ll(l; Slophon, ;iid, 
•lO'.!. 101, lo:.. Ill, ll;!, lis, (127 ; 
'I'liKiiiaM, ;i7(i, ;t;))i, ;i')'.!. ioh. d'j7; 

Wailing; IIH; William. 15(1, ;i'.»l), 107, 

110, 115. 117, 11!). 1(11; W)ii.W.,M.;. 
I'oiliiiiH. <'lia)'l(tM N.. 11(1; I'Mwai'd \,., 

110, IIS; .lam.'M I! . 10',); .lomiM, '.'HH; 

'I'Ikiiiims II , l(),'>. 10(1. 
r.-io. I'rin.r, II'!. 115. 
I'liny, ,\)l,lii)r, '.-';); .lolMi,;i7)l; Samiinl 

N., 117. 
I'lmsiiDi.s. ( liicliaii), :I5!), Ildl. 
IMiolpM, (^i,p(, , 17.1; William. I',). 
IMillip, Ki));;, ( liK.liiui). '15'.), :i(;d. 
riiilJjp.s. lOiiKOiio ('., 110; Mr., 105, 

l'.))l; liioiil.. (!()v., I7;t; SaiDdol, itK; 

S(«pli.m (1., dIO; S. W. 1.17; Wim- 

.lall.dll; WilliiMi). S)l, l-JI. 
riiippi'iiy, Itotijamiii. 510. 
riiipp.s, (IMiiiLH), II. (1. ()., -.Ml); SpiMi 

r.-r, IdS; liaimas, do, •j;t!». (12)1; Wil 

liaiii, ;i(li'. 
I'ioKtaiii;;. AiMliiir. III. 
ri(>r('(<. .'Mtraliam, 17'.!, 171; It.iilliolo 

mitw.dO; UtMi jaiiii)i lv..'IIS; Clia.'^. 

(10, )il , '.'(10, )l'.!,s'; <'liail.>.s |i;., 1 10, lid; 

('liail«,M 1'",. 11'-!; l';h(Mii</,(M' W., Ill; 

lOli, 'll,S; l''i'a))Uliii, 17!); .loloi, (10; 

l,u.mic«'l<)(,, (10, (I'JH; Lo(iiii«>l l).,d'2H; 

l,«llii<ut, <)1; liiiOiard, lOH; Saoxu'l 

S.. 117; William. (10, :i();i. I'J'J. d'JS. 
rilio, 'riiomiiH, 50,S. 



I'lLclior, .Jaw., ;!dl; Moll, IDI; Tl.ank- 
liil, (l'.!H. 

i'ii,kiii, oii;u'i<iH A., :m. 

I'iliiiaii, i:.(>l)(trl, (!., (II I. 

I'iU,, •, :i77. 

I'lac.n, 'rii<i)iiii.H, 'il). 

I'liimli, l{«iv. Mr., 'Jdd. 

I'liimlov, Aliixaiid(M-, 'J!); .lo.siipli, 55!). 

rococ.kii, Conlirid, 5.5!); Jolili, ■15;t, KIH. 

I'oIhoii, .losi'pli, lO.'l. 

I'oiiKiroy, TliadddiiH, '2!(l, 'i!)(l. 

I'omiiiVV (Mlavi'), 2.5!), iO.'?. 

I'oiid X', (lalo, .502. 

I'oiMi, , Lll; Aloxaiidor I'., HO; 

A.sa, 102, 2;td, ;i0;i,;t()5; lOdmiiiid, K.5, 
H-1, ;j;t2; .loliii, H;t, (Wd: .lohi) A., 
'142; l;<iiiiiit^l, •2;t8; Ifalpd, 4 18; Sila.s 
II., ir!, Il.t; William «).,44(). 447; 
tV. INmiiiman, (lO.'l. 

I'orl-fir, Alxil, 2!); ( !liarloH 11., H2, 44(i; 
I);uii<^l, 410; I )a,vi<l, 4()H; lHaa(\:t7l; 
.l..lm, IHH; .loHopli, 4();i, 401, 40!), 
Ill; M(»Hon, n!)2; Iv'cfV. Dr., 2i;t; 
HamiKil. 4'20. 

I'i>r(,.irii\ «!liiiid(i K. I!, dn la, '272. 

\'i>iUn-, llolxirl., 4(i;t; William, '2!), 104. 

I'owoll. Arlliiir, 55!); 'I'liomaH, KIH. 

I'owinH, Dimiii,^, '2H,S, '20(1. 

I'ovvri-li, A II rod, 444. 

I'raU,, Aant)!. I'iO; Arlali. 4'2(); i-U 
Urn, '242; Dairml, ;t71, :!77 ; lOlimi. 
oziir, 401, 401), 4i:t, 41S; I'ldwiii U.. 
44:t, dOI; .lamos, II!); .h^sHii, 401, 
405, 411, 412; .loliii, :i7n; dohii A., 
44(1; .l(di)i W., 442; .lo.'^hiia, 420; 
.lowiali, (12(1; ljii.haii, 120; MaMlunv, 
(10, 401, 414, 422; N:iiliaMi<4, :!7 1 ; 
Solomon, 420; SUmiIkoi. ;i7 I, 41(1. 121 ; 
MMllmaii H., 5:i;!; 'riiomn,.-*, dO,.Hd, !)(), 

:m, 40(1, d'2d; \' iia,s(,.v. 5: 1.1. 

I'rav, . 470; lltmjamin, .5!), .'t.U, 

■l()(l, 112, (l'2(i; Cliarlos I''., lit). III, 

41(1,417; I'lpluaim, ;t7d, 55(1; .lallH^,>^, 

II!); John, (10, '240, '2(10, 40(1, (10l,(l'2(l; 

,loS(*pli.2:t:!. 11(1, .501, 55(1; Lt'wiH ()., 

'210; l'(M.M-, II!). 
I'rti.MooU,, Ahram, 2(10; <!(M)r;;(( W., 

5.10; Williadi <)., 4l:i. 
l'i((.si((ii. Alldn^\v .!., 442. 44:i. 
I'rico. h;/,.dvit<l, 5,S(); Mary I)., •2;t7. 

5.S(); William, -148. 
I'riiii'o. ,)ol>, 4!)l; Ivov. Mr., '2'2:i. 
Prior, l';raHUi,>4, i;W; lOy.ra, 2;t7; Hiram. 

72, 5'2.t, 5'25; 1 1 iram H.. 1 10; Paraii 

ll.,44'2, 44.1 (i^t^o Prvor). 
Proctor, John, ;i()0, :!()l. 11(1. 
Prvor, .loliii, •204. 

Piillor, (l(H>rn<(, 20; .lamcw, ."175, 550. 
Piirv. 4''liomnH, •I5;t. 
Piilsil'tM', David, xiv. 
Pill. nam. .Arlliiir A.. 22.S; I(<mi l^iiiin. 

'2!)2; 1 ItMirv. 1 10; .hmicM. 572; do.s, 

IC. 442. 
Pyiu'lion. , 21, 22. 



<.^)tiii»(\v (<i*iiii>.'^»n'), Abigail, 121, 1'22; 
Anil. (10, (l'2d;" Anna, '205; ('ol., 48H; 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



655 



Dorothy, 5R2; Edmund (Puritan), 
11, 14, 22, 23, 24, 45, 47, 191, 2:?*;, SSfi, 
587; Edmund (Lieut. Col. ), 54, 114, 
117, 121, 208, 359, 3(if), 3G7, 368, 3rt9, 
4.59, 547, 549, ,503, 505, 568, 587; Ed- 
mun.l (.rud}re),69, 208, 20<), 211, 215, 
"^Ki 219 236, 232, 233, 244, 249, 285, 
452', 551! 553, 564, 5K7, .588, 589; Ed- 
mniid (Merchant), 1(!8, 222, .582, 5S9; 
Edmund (son of Josiah), 589; Ed- 
mund (the present), 592; Eliza Su- 
san, 245, .587, 591; Jacob. .373, .589; 
Joanna, 117, 121; John, .57,63, 219, 
222, 233, 244, .370, 371, 474, 478, 480, 
5.50, 551 , .552, .5,53, 564, .574, 588; Jo- 
siah (son of Edmund), 38, 40, 222, 
425,480,486, 564, 589, .590; Josiah, 
Jr. (Patriot), 121, 122, .340, 590; Jo- 
siah, Hon. (son of Josiah, Jr.), 68, 
9«), 115, 237, 238, 245, 4.33, .591, 592, 
599; Josiah, Jr. (son of Hon. Jo- 
siah), .55, 80, 81; Judith, .587; Major, 
173; Marv J., 444; Norton, 59, 117, 
316, 379, 380, 384, .39.3, 474, 475, 477, 
490, 626; Samuel, 5!)0. 

Rach, Conrad, 480. 
Rafnes, Richard, 416; 
Rainsfoard, Edward, 187. 
Rale, Father, 270. 

Randall, Henrv, 193; John, .5.50; Jon- 
athan, 404, 413; Stephen, 60, 4.30. 
Randolph, Peyton, 290. 
Rantoul, Robert, 529. 
Rawson, Ann, 118; Cato, 422; Davul, 
233; Dyar, 60; Ebenezer, 118, 238; 
Edward, 546; Elliot, 628; firendal, 
623; Jonathan, 626; Mr., 22, .5.5, 365, 
m) 549, .550; Pelatiah, 233; Samuel, 
238'; Thankful, 118; William, 118, 
212, 549, 563. 
Reade, John, 29. 

Reed, Francis L., 442; James, 422, 
442; John, 86; Mary, 292; Moses, 
VM; Mrs., :W4; Phebe, 1.34. 
Reilv, Thomas, 416. See Riley. 
Revell, Thomas, 229, 549, .5.59. 
Rewett, John, .549. 
Reyner, John. 117; Judith, 117. 
Reynolds, William \V., 440. 

jiiee , 167, 173, .524; Alexander 

H.', .310, 611; Geortte M., .595; Luth- 
er, 2(51; Robert, 187; Ruth, .595; 
Thomas, 98. 
Rifch, Capt.,523; Robert, 465, 
Richards, Daniel, 410; Jeremiah, 376; 
John, 43, .52; Joseph, 110, 515, 516, 
517 518; liysauder, 518; Ly.>*aiider 
S "179; Miinn & Co., 511, .512, 515, 
5i(i, 518; & Munn, 517; & New- 
comb. 517. 
Ricliard.-(oii, Benjamin, 407, 41it, 41. >; 

Daniel, 411. 
Richmond, Abzerther, 411. 
Ricker, Martin, 133. 
Rickett, Richard, 29. 
Riddle, David, 241 ; Isaac, 10«). 2.3(., 
3.34. 



Rideont, James W., 442; Luke, 150; 

Luke A., 440. 
Riford, (Wriford or Biford), John, 

.560; .Jo.sepli, 4')5, 410, 413. 
Riley, Charles D., 440,447. See Reily. 
Ripley, John, .364; Mr., 601; Samuel, 

429.' 
Roach, John W., 481. See Roche. 
Robl)ins, Chandler, 225, 226; Edward 
H., 98,628; Janu^sM., 4.50, 464, 472; 

Rev. Mr., 223; Samuel, 376. 
Robertson, John 508; Joseph W., 

148, 175 
Robinson, B., 437; William W., 440. 

Roche, . 277. See Roach. 

Rockwell, Julius, 611. 
Rockwood, John. .559. 
Rodden, Father, 277, 278, 295. 
Rogers (Rodders), Charles A., 442; 
Clift, 269, 284; David, 29; Otis, 44<); 
O. T., 517; O. T., & Co., 511, 512, 
517,518; Theodore, .508. 
Rose, Francis, 5.59; George, 20, 194. 
Rossiter, David, 98; Edward, 20. 
Rotch, William, 100. 
Rousselet, Louis, 272. 
Rowe (Row), Charles H., 283; Han- 
nah, 60; John, 523,581. 
Rubbuck, Thomas, 420. 
Rndderham, William E., 446. 
RuL'L'les, Benjamin, 253; George, 68, 
.5.59; John, 125, 126, 2.33, 244, 319, 
320 379, .380, 548, 550, 563, 564. 628; 
Josiah, 126; Mary, 125, 126; Sarah, 
126. 
Russ, Richard, .559. 
Rus.sell, Edward, 445; Ezekiel, 296; 
Joshua, 376; Noahdiah, 547; Rev. 
T. C, 289; Thomas, 86. 
Ryan, Dennis, 428; James, 274, 447. 
Ryder, .lames E., 442, 443. 

Sacan. Martin, 'MM. . , „ „„ 

Safford, Daniel, .503: Nathaniel F., 38. 

Sage, Svlvester, 286. 

Salshurv, Stephen, .374. 

Salter, Nicholas. .5.59; William, 188. 

Salt(nist;ill, Richard, 184. 

Sampford (Sanfo.ard), John, 11, 22, 
23, 24, 187. 

Sampson, Charle.>« M., 446. 

Sanborn, Dr., 439. 

Sargent (Sergant), Ezekiel C, 512; 
Lucius M., 145, 599; Manlius, 145; 
Mary, 145; Mr., :$6; Walter C, 442; 
Wiliiam, .37.3. 

Saunders (^Sanders). Ann, 124; Benja- 
min, 60, 406, 626; Eliz.aheth, 124, 
.546, .547; John, 60. 85, 247, 323, .549, 
626- Jos., 375; Josiah, ,376; Lydia, 
124; Martin, .32, :«, .34, 67, 74, 1(54. 
1()5, 194, ;{.58, 364, .5:55, .5.38, .5.39, .54<), 
547 .548, .5.59, .568; Susannah, 124, 
32.3'; William, 60, 8<;, 124, 62(i 

Savage, Capt., 70; Kphraim, 4.52, 471; 
.Fas S.,.508; Sarah, 4.52, 471 ; Thos.. 
42, 44, 46. .50. lH;t, 186. 187, 200, 4.58. 

Savi*! (S'avill, Saville, Savel), Abigail, 



656 



INDEX TO NAMF;S. 



128; Benjamin, 34, 60, 211, 231, 5fi7, 

626; Charles L., 442; Efliiunul, 59; 

Edward, 420,425; Edwin H., 332; 

Elisha, 124, 127; George W., 447; 
■ Hannah, 127; Henry M., 445; Job. 

127; John, 108, 238, 303, 305, 332, 

421, 449; John F , 442. 445; Josiah, 

238; Nathaniel, 408, 414; Nici, 549; 

Patience, 127; Samuel. 34, 59, ilO. 

102, 115, 127, 128, 130, 174, 17H, 179, 

212, 233, 238, 244, 302, ;303, 304, 3(16, 

338, 429, 548, 626; William, 45, 211. 

364, 54!). 
Sawin (Sawen), Eliphalet, 392, 393, 

403, 409, 414, 418. 
Sawyer, Conant, 293; Henry M., 443. 
Scannell, Patrick, 443. 
Scant, William, 559. 
SchAiidt, William, 443. 
Schrontcnbrack, Conrad, 480. 
Scott, Duke, 411; John, 555; Mr., 583; 

Peter, 5.59; Robert, 29, 31; Stephen, 

559. 
Scucider, David, 100; Jolm, 408. 
Scale, John, 559. 
Searl, Jabez, 559. 
Seaton, Andrew, 174. 
Seaver, William, 2.3S, 329, 333, 340, 

431. See Sever. 
Sedfiewick, Major, 454. 
Sejier, Harriet A.,, 578; William, 578. 
Sellake, Daniel, 10. 
Sellen, Thomas, .30. 
Sever, Thomas, .377; William, 98. 
Sewall, David, x; J. B., 347; Judge, 

xi, 113; Rev. Mr., 223; Samuel, 205; 

Samuel E., 610. 
Seward, William H., 303. 
Slmckley, Jonas, 337, 446. 
Shiillpasse, Jopannschard, 422. 
Sharp, Robert, 30. 
Shaw, Henjamin, 411 ; Ebenezer. 237; 

Henry, 610; H. Emer.-«on,440; Isaac, 

374; John, 374, 416; Richard, 414. 
Sheahan, Tiuiothy, 447; William, 447. 
Shed (Shode), Daniel, 16, .559. 
Sheen, William G., 440, 445, 446. 
Sheffield, Deborah, 123; Ednumd, 123, 

559; Saral), 123. 
Sheldon, O. E., 517,518. 

Shelley, , 27. 

Sheppard (Shepard, Sheopard), Geo., 

30; John, 16; Mr., ;>21; Samuel, 

559; Thomas, 559. 
Shirley, Ralph, 142, 143; Wm., 142, 

143, 167, 17H, 369, 370. 
Shooter, Peter, .j59. 
Sbortland, Thomas, 443. 
Shove, Nathaniel, 559 
Shrimpton, Henry, 30; Madam, 36. 
Shute, Rev. Mr., '223. 
Sidclinger, Zenas H., 442. 
Silvester (Sylvester), Beajamin, 559; 

Philip, 403, 410. 
Simons, Perez, 411; Thomas, 30. 
Simp.son, John A., 109. 
Siniiot, Waters, 30. 
Skillings, Reuben, 416. 



Skinner, George W., 262. 

Slone, David,'40.3, 409, 414; John, 40.3, 
408, 409, 414; Peter, 405, 408, 409, 
414. 

Small, J. W.,262. 

Snialley, George L., 445, 447. 

Smith,' (Snivthe), ,22, 223; Abi- 
gail, 491, 572; Avi.s, 292; Daniel D., 
260; Edmund, 410, 411; Eliphalet, 
264; Elizabeth, 1,38; Henry, 628; 
H. Parnam, 444; Isaac, 375, 403, 
414, 420; John, 1, 443; J. V. C, 
306; Mary, 491: Matthew, .30; Mat- 
thew H., 260; Philip, 373; Stephen 
S., 2(i3; Thomas, 440. 441; Timothy, 
403; Vernon, 443, 447; William, 1.38, 
240, 491, 492, 572; Zeba, 292. 

Sniouse, George, 481. 

Snell, Isacher, 299. 

Snively, Thaddeus A., Rev. 257. 

Snow, , 524; Jahez, 376. 

Snowden, James, 444. 

Soley, John, 300. 

Solon, David, .374. 

Soper, Benjamin, 559; Edmund, 156, 
3<)0, 392, 404, 405, 422; Eunice, 1.56; 
Jes.se C, 156; Martha, 1,56; Tl)eoi)h- 
ilus, 156. » 

Souther, Francis L., 440, 441, 447; 
Horace O., 440; John, 106, 108, 238, 
242, 243, 493, 495. 

Sparlden, Edward, 16. 

Spear, Ahig.ail, 1.S6; Alpheus, 260; 
Benony, 373; Clhas. H., .339; Chris- 
topher A., 440; Daniel, 102, 124, 
237, 23H, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 40^), 
412,626; Daniel B., 449; Deerins, 
161, 403, 409, 411, 412, 414. 418; Eb- 
enezer, ,34, 161, 208; Edward A., 
440, 441, 445, 446; Eli, 403, 407, 409, 
410, 415; Elinor. 125; Elijah, 237, 
239, 602: Elizabeth, 125; Frances, 
241; Han!iah,124, 292; Horace, 443; 
Isaac, 391, ,39.3, 403; Jacob, 403, 406, 
407, 410, 414, 415, 420; Ja.son, 125; 
John, 96, 123, 124, 233, 2.38, 242, :".74, 
429, 430; Joseph, 161, 403, 409, 419, 
426, 627; Joseph E., 446; Joshua, 
292; Judith, 125; Justin, 146; Lem- 
uel, 40.3, 409, 414; Luther, 241, 409. 
414, 415, 449; Moses, 390, 403, 414, 
418; Nancv, 292; Nathaniel, 34. 124, 
161,211; dtis,292; Polly, 292; Rich- 
ard, 409, 412; Samuel, 34, 124, 212, 
237, 403, 406, 408, 409, 411, 414, 415, 
418, 421, 548, 549, 5,55: Samuel H., 
442; Sarah, 292; Seth, ,59, 89, 125, 
i;56, 241, 410, 412, 626; Simeon, 415; 
Stephen, 125; Warren Q., 440; Wil- 
liam, 60, 124, 2,33, 240, ,375, 40li, 410, 
412, 626; Zeb, f!26; Zeba, 292, 294, 

Spencer, Siimuel, ,559. 

Spoor, John, ;50. 

Sprague, A. W., 267; John, 628 629; 
Philip S., 442. 

Si)roule, Alexander, 443. 

Squamog (Sipiamaug, Indians), Dan- 
iel, 45, 47; Hezekiah H., 552. 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



657 



N' Standish, Miles, 7, 8, 17. 
Staunyoii, Anthony, 30. 
Staples, Samuel, 55!). 
Starbnck, Edward, 281; George, 44< 
Slearns (Sterns), (ieorse, 171, 51o; 

Henry, 31; Levi, Jr., 442. 
Stebbins, Eli, 508. 
Stedman, Benjamin, 553, 559. 
Stei>hens, Isaac, 409; Joseph, 559; 
Paletiah, 375; Robert, 30, 559; Sam- 
uel 374; \Vm.,418. See Stevens. 
Stetson, Amasa, 348, 349; Amos, (iO, 
374 410, 412; Heiijamin, 37b, 37/, 
403", 409, 414; Charles E.,34fi; Char- 
lotte, 292; Gideon. 403, 411, 412,%14, i 
4''0- John, 349, 409, 414; Jonathan, j 
292'; Knfus, 403, 407,415, 422. 
Stevens, Benjamin, 220, 437. See 

Stephens. i 

Stiles, Ezra, 541. 
Stilidiin, Cornelius, 416. 
Stoddard (Stoder), Anthony, .30, 33, 
Col 484; James, 403, 421; John, 
:m, 559; Judson, 180; Samuel, 411, 
41(>; Stephen, 421; Thomas, 421. 
Stole, John, 480. 

Stone, Daniel J., 282; John, 5.59. 
Storer, Richard, .30. 
Storey, Nathaniel, 5.59. 
Storrs, Ann S., 160; Rev. Charles 
B 160: Harriet, 160; Rev. Rich- 
ard S., 159, 160, 286, 287; Sarah S., 
160. 
Stott, Benjamin, 559. 
Stoushton, Israel, 20, 42, 69, 70, 184, 

18(5, 205. 
Streeter, Sebastian, 260. 
Strong, Caleb, 96, 173, 609; Edward, 

xiv; Jonathan, 286, 291. 
Stubbert, Rev. William F., 293, 294. 
Stubing, George M., 478, 480, 5.^9. 
Suberbuhler. Sebastian, 482. 
Sullivan, James, 97, 277, 278, 60i); 

William, 105. 
Sumner, Increase, 98, 434, 609; Jesse- 
niah,628; Nathaniel, 559; William, 
407, 415. 
Sur.ah, John, 486. 

Sutton, Hezekiah, 409; Lemuel, 409. 
Swain, Joseph, .559. 
Sweetzer, Theodore H . , 611. 
Swift, Barnabas, 89, 62<;; Thomas, 89. 
Syder, Frederick, 478. 5.59. 
Symmes, Elenor B.. 323; Sarah, 205 
"Thomas, 323; William, 205. 



Taft, Eleazer, 403, 415, 418; Jo.xeph, 
416; Moses, 2'.»1; Phineas, 414; Kev. 
Mr, 223. 

Talbot, John. 449; Thomas, 611. 

Talcott, ,19,20. 

Tanzv, William F., 446, 447. 

Taylor Edmund B., 22, 55, 68; Rev- 
Edward M., 289; Rev. E. T., 2<.8 
Jolm%.;Kev.Mr..221; Thomas 
238, 439; William, (>2H. 

Tenn'ey, Rev. Francis U., 288. 

84 



Terry, Mr . .547. 

Thacher, Mr . 205, 218; Oxenbridge, 

590; Peter, 1.54. 
Thathson, Thomas, 559. 
Thaver, Abel. 375, .37(i; Abner, 422; 
Abraham. 405, 408, 414, 418, 42'.t. (i27 ; 
Alexander, 412. 415; Amasa, 422; 
Amos, 421; Ann, 127; Barnabas, 
409, 413, 422; Bartholomew, 404,410, 
413' 41H; Benjamin, 404, 407, 415, 
420, 6-'7; Caleb, 1.59, 373. 414. 415; 
Calvin. 404. 406, 40«, 411, 412, 415; 
Chri.stopher, 376. 405; Cornelius, :«, 
'272; Daniel. 161; David, 411, 412; 
Dorcas, .591; Ebenezer, :i5, 2(»S, 316, 
379, :«0, :«1, :585, 391, 393, 402, 404, 
405, 408, 415, 417, 418, 427, 490, .501, 
5M, 5(55, 627; Elihu, .303, 305, 449; 
Elijah, 374, 376, 409, 412; Eliphalet. 
414"; Eliphav, 411, 412, 422; Elka- 
nali, 405, 409, 413, (!27; P:phraim. 
1.58 328, :?74. 404, 405, 408, 409, 413, 
417, 418, 420; Caius, 8!l, 409, 413; 
I (icorge, 237,443; (Jideon. .376, 627; 
I Gideon F , .529, 5:iO; (ioody, 549; 
Henrv, 410; Hezekiah, 40.3, 410; 
! Isaac', 367, 403, 405. 40S, 409, 414, 
' 418 422; .lames, 174, 40S, 42;>; Jere- 
j iniah, 403, 409, 414; Jesse, 374; 
1 Jc.hn', 34, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 377, 
I 404 405, m\, 40K, 414, 415, 422; .Ton- 
1 ath'an, 391. 408, 40'.t. 418; Joshua. 
1 2<I2 .376,40!!; Josiah, 403, 404, 410, 
414 • Lemuel, .328, .376; T^vi, 403, 
414; Luther, 422; Micah, 40!t, 414; 
Moses, 161; Nathaniel. .'34, 1.59, 4a5, 
.5'll- Neheiuiah,405, 40iK413; Noah, 
375, 403, 405, 410, 413, 415; Oliver, 
405 40!i, 411, 412, 414, 418; Paul, 
377 403, 40!), 411, 414; Pet*r, .374. 
4()il, 413; Philip. 405,408, 413; Reu- 
ben 413, 414, (;27; Rev. J. H., 2(W.; 
Richard, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 4(i. 47, 48. 
4«l 50 51 .52, .53, .57, '.^'A, '.^\'>, .3<>6, 
:«;7, 374, 408, 40!), 410. 414, 627, 62!l; 
Rufiis, 403, 414, 627: Samuel. :U, 
412- Samuel W., 404; Sarah, 1.58; 
Shadrack, 2!tl, 2!)2; Simeon. 375, 

404 409.413,418.627; Solomon. 1.34, 

405 408, 414, 418; Sylvanu.s '■W<. ^ 
•i53 .5!il; S. \- E.. 75; Tlieophilns. 
i)S 2.37; Thomas, .30, 127; Timothy, 
403 4(U. 40!i, 410, 413, 414, 415, 418, 
4-)l'4'2- Uriah, 4m, 408, 411: Wil- 
liam, 377. 404, 408. 40!", 41.3. 418, 422; 
William F., 447; Zaclianah, 420; 
Zachariah M., 144, 405, 410, 413, (.28; 
Zacheus, 2!)2, 375, 403; /t-bali, 408, 

. 418, 422; it White, .5:^» 

Thaxter, John. Jr.. 412: Samuel, 218, 

373, 375 
Thomas, Krasmus, 448; George. 72. 

4<i:{ 4!'5, 4!)(i; Isaiah, 177; .Fohn, 

411;'; Joshua, 100; Samuel, 446. 
Thompson, ,301; Anna B, 347 : 

ChirUw..377: Mrs. 8. SeeTonip.son 
Thwing, Edward P.,2(W5; Lydia. 555. 
Tileston, William. 173. 



658 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



^ Tilley, James, 409, 414. 

Tiiiij. See Tyn£je. 

Tin-ell, Clias. P., xiv., 259, 439; Geo., 
449; James E., 336, 442, 443; Jos., 
60,412,626; Nathan, 406, 412, 428, 
626; Quincy, 442; Thomas, 431, 44!t. 

Tolman, (Tilbert A., 292; Sarah, 292; 
Thomas W., 292, 293. 

Tomas, William, 559. 

Toiiilin, John, 422. 

Tompson, Abigail, 323; Anne, 116, 
198, 199, 323;^Henianiin, 34, 47, 160, 
313, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 
546, .547, 550, 604; Edward, 166; 
Elizabeth, 118, 323; Ellenor, 323; 
Hannah, 118, 323; Philip, 323; Sam- 
uel, 54, 118, 166, 212, 232, 263, 240, 
325, 338, 359, 547, 548, 563; Sarah, 
118; Susannah, 323; William, xiii, 
30, 31, U3, 114, 116, 194, 195, 196, 
1!I7, 198, 190, 200, 201, 202, 245, 3;i9, 
360, 361, 538, 559. See Thompson. 

Tool, John, 443. 

Toomey, Michael, 443. 

Topsham, James, 437. 

Torrey, lienjamin, 412; Elizabeth, 
341; Joshua, 104; Samuel, 231; Wil- 
liam, 109. 

Tosh, William, 559. 

Totman, Fieeman M., 440, 447. 

Tower, Abraham, 421; Gideon, 403, 

409,414; James, 404, 405, 413; Jas. 

A., 561 ; John, 374, 375, 404; Joseph, 

374, 403, 409, 414, 415, 422, 501; Ma- 

' lach, 421. 

Townsend, Mr., .377; William, 187. 

Trafton, Mark, 270. 

Tra.sk, Frederick A., 146; Henry, 447: 
Jos. E,, 444; Samuel, 333, 421, 422. ' 

Treadwell, Mr., xi, xii. 

Tuberfield, James, .559. 

Tucker, Betsey, 292; David, 628; 
Isaac, 628; Jeremiah, 628; Manas- 
sah, 38, 450, 451, 464, 472; Samuel, 
628. 

Tuckerman, James, 95. 

Tufts, Cotton, 86, 97, 236, 302; Quin- 
cy, 236. 

Tupper, Major. 395. 

Turner, Edward, 605; Elisha, 60, 241, 
305, 626; Georiie W., 447; Henrv, 
144, 249, 251; Henrv O., 440; John, 
299; John I}., 440; Marv, 241 ; Pe- 
ter, 241, 304; Koyal, 3.5:;; S.. 4.37; 
Samuel V., 428; Seth, .374, .394. 402, 
403, 407, 410, 411, 41.3, 415, 417, 627. 

Tuttle, Jo.seph, 174. 

Twelves, Robert, 16, 118, .359, .3()(i, 549, 
559. 

Tyler, Albert, 261; Nathan, 420. 

Tyno- (Tinu, Tinue), Kdwnrd, .30,31; 
'Stephen H., 255; William, 205, ,359, 
540, 559, 562. 



Underbill, John, 187, 542. 
Underwood, Ebenezer W., xiv, .307, 
441; Elijah, 410; Peter, .374. 



Upham, C. W., 186. 
Upton, fJeorse B., 310. 
Usher, Bridget, 120. 



Valentine, Eliot, 329. 

Van Buren, Martin, 577. 

Vane, Henry, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 
189, 191, 201. 

Varnum, Joseph B., 609. 

Vary, William, 294. 

Vassall (Vassel, Va.s.sell), Dorothy, 
143; Leonard, 25S, 464, 559; Lewis, 
1|3, 559; Phebe, 2.58; William, .584. 

Veazie (Veasey, Vesev), Benjamin, 
142, 248, 249, 251, 257, 379, 404, 40ij, 
407,408,415; Ebenezer, .59, 85, 97, 
115, 626; Eli, 601, 602; Eliezer, 550; 
Elijah, 59, 85, 90, 95, 241, 412, 605, 
62(); Ellen, 546, .547; George, 108, 
241, 3,32, 335; John, 247, 249, 251, 
.323, ,3.32; John H., 180; Jos., 408; 
Jo.siah, 411, 626; Lemuel, 376, 405, 
409, 412, 413, 418, 627; Mary, 115, 
626; Mottram, 59, 95, 115, 178, 179, 
626; Itev. Mr., 246; Samuel, 2.S5, 
324, 404; Sarah, 1.34, 626; Silas, 409, 
413; Solomon, 34, 247, .546, 547, 549; 
Stephen, 449; William, 16, 34, 60, 
118, 134, 142, 170, 244, 247, 248, 253, 
257, .333, 339, ,367, 379, 416, .546, 547, 
548, 549, 56,3, 626. 

Vicky, Nehemiah, 416. 

Vina], Maj., 523; Mr., 220. 

Vincent, Charles M., 533. 

Vinton, Benjamin, 178, 303; David, 
411; John, 39, 316, 391, 394, 405, 406, 
407, 408, 415, 418,419; John A., 471; 
Seth, 410; Sheriff, 389; Thomas, 422, 
425, 463, 464. 

Vose, David, 481; Henry, 451; Joseph, 
628; Nathaniel, 422;' Robert, 422; 
Samuel, 628. 



Waddy, Peter, 416. 

Wadsworth, x, , 628; Benjamin, 

131; Ester, 131; John, 38, 4.50, 451, 
464,472; Joseph, 37. 

W.aitte, (Wayte), Gamaliel, 187; Geo. 
N.,289; Richard, 30, 188; Samuel, 
30. 

Waldo, Samuel, 482, 483, 484. 

Wales, Benjamin, 410, 413; Bradford 
L., 434, 610; Elisha, 403, 409, 413, 
428; Elkanah, ,501; Ephraim, 299, 
403,627; Jacob, 403, 407, 410, 411, 
415; Jonathan, 292, 294, 299, 300, .301, 
403, 413, 418; Joseph, 407, 410, 411, 
415, 449; Nathaniel, 212, ,320, 328, 
390, 391, 404, 405, 408, 413, 418. 490, 
563, 566, 567, 628; Thomas, ,38, 40, 
413, .550; Thomas B., 299. 

Walesby, David, 244, 560. 

Walker, Henry, 445, 446; Is.aac, 299; 
James, 411; John, 188; Jonathan, 
37(); Joseph, 376, 603; Marshall, 411; 
William, 416. 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



650 



\ 



Walley, Samuel H. . 611 . | 

Wallis CoUv, 421; David, 411. I 

"Walsh, Michael, 442. i 

Walter, Rev. Mr., 88. 
■\Vainpatuck, (Indian), 41, 45, 46, 47, 

48, 4!». 
Wansell, Henry, 480. 
Ward, Capt.,374. 
Wardall (Wardell), Nathaniel, 560; 

Thomas, 188; William, 30, 188. 
Ware, Prof., 224; William, 225. 
Warins, Arthur, li), 560. 
• Warner, Silas, 376. 
^~V Warren, Col., 484. 
^S'Washhurn, Asa, 411; Barnahas, 411 ; 
Emorv,610; William B.,611. 
Washington, Georije, 272, 3<)(i, 406,407. 

583, 584, 59(5. 
Waterman, Thomas, 16, 560. 
Waters, Jo.seph, 404; Nathaniel, 560. 
Webb (VVeh), Abigail, 128; Albert, 
175; Bathsheba, 128; Benjamin, 34, 
128, 232, 233, 325, 327, 551," 553, 604, 
605; Christopher, 16, 45, 54, 233, 319, 
367, 501, 547, 560,563; Elizabeth, 128, 
Eunice B., 128; Henry, 30, 31, 453, 
454; John, 212, 548, 563; Jonathan, 
59, 86, 87, 90, 102, 128, 384, 626; Lucy, 
128; Nancv, 128; Nathan, 128; Pe- 
ter, 34; Thomas H., 442. 
Weed, Tliurlow. .303. 
Weld, Anna, 155; Daniel, 437, 560; 
Ezra, 155, 224, 286; Hannah, 155; 
Mr., 538; Thomas, 182, 183, 453. 
Welliuffton. A.sa. 340. 
Wells (Wels), Daniel, 30; John D., 
227, 228, 245, 341, 443; Nathaniel , 98, 
548; Samuel, 628; Thos., 208; Wil- 
liam v., 586. 
Welsh, Thomas, 89, 279, 626. 
Wendall, Geo. B., & Co., 517; John, 

xi, 560; Oliver, 86,97. 
Wentworth, Miss, xi; Theophilus, 

299. 
Wescut, Samuel, 416. 
West, George, 426; Isaac, 415; Tlios., 

409. 
Wevnious, Thomas (Indian), 47. 
Whall, William, 239. 

Whallev, , 541. 

Wheatley, John, 16, 5(i0. 
Wheeler, Anser B., 269; Benjamin, 
293, 294; Georite, 416: Thomas, 188; 
William, 449. 
Wheelwright, John, xiii. 11, 26, 27, 
31, 181, 1.S2, 1H3, 1H6, 1H7, 1S8, 189, 
1!HI. 191, 192, 193, 201, 202. 
Wbi.jher, John D., 2.-.3, 279, 443, 602; 
Jo.seph B , 517, olS; J. B. & Co., 
109, 511, 512, 51H; Warren, 4:M. 
Whipido, Stt'|)hen, 376. 
Whitcomb, Al.iah, 420; David. 415; 
Jacob. 404, 409, 413; John, 404, 413; 
Jonathan. 408; Moses. 411. 412, 413; 
Noah, 403, 407, 413, 415; Tilloy, 174. 
White, Allie G.,.3,'j3; Anna, 129; Ben- 
jamin, 247, 627; Caleb, 292, 418; 
Calvin, 292, .")26; ("..riielius. 404. 4n:i, 



413; Daniel, 404, 407, 414, 415; Da- 
vid, 404, 409, 413; D. B., :«4; Eben- 
ezer, l.">7, 403, 410, 414; Freeman, 
4:U; George, 149, 443, .529; Hetny 
C . 448; T.-<aiah, 442; James, 374, 
629; John, :{74, 404, 413. 420, 429, 
50S; Jo.-ici.h, 404, 409, 413, 627; 
Livingston, 292; I^oring, .59, 404, 
405, 408, 4.30; Luther, 420; Lvdia, 
157; Marv.-WS; Micah, 2!t2; IVIica- 
jah, 403;" Michael, 412; Nathan, 
292; Nathan H., 603; Natlianiel. 
.529 ,595, 602; Samuel, ,34, :«, ti^ 
4ri?i 20S, 321, 404, 463, .5.50, 603; Sa- 
rah, 292; Solomon, 414. 627; Thos., 
34, .35, 57, 157, 391, 449, .501. .548; 
William. 1.57; & Spear, 602. 
Whiter, Abel, 420. 

Whiting, Joseidi W., 152, 442; Sam- 
uel, 320; William, P., 2*t9. 
Whitman (Whiteman), D.avid, 420; 
Kilborn, 94; Mr., 224; Nehemi.ah, 
420. 
Whitm<ar.*!h, Benjamin, 405; Ebenezer, 

408; William, .39, 375. 
Whitney, A.aron, 224; Adams, 443; 
Caroline, 432; Frederick A., 2.32, 
541; George, ix, 80, 81, 166, 167, 1(!8, 
2^3 224,326,432, 433; George W., 
262"- Jane, 117; John, 240, 243, 329, 
43', 433. 449; Peter, 62, !t2, 95, 9!), 
114. 117, 140, 195, 224, 238, 240, 242, 
243, 245. 302. .339, 431. 432, 4:^8, 492, 
.594; Quincv, 261; & Na.sh, 531. 
Whiton ( Whiten), Elisha, 421 ; Geo. , 
421; Tsaiah G., 72, 526; Zachariah. 
420. 
Whittemore, Benjamin F., 260; Thos., 

2.59. 
Wibird, Anthony, 63, 90, 91, 92, 93, *>4, 
95,117,22.3, 224, 235, 236, 2.37, 2.39, 
245, 339, m^, 5<)5, 594. 
Wiirgin, Thomas, 4.58, 460; Timothy, 

4.38. 
Wilbur (Wilbore), George, 411; Han- 
nibal P., 442; Samuel, 187; Shad- 
ra<"li, .560; William S., 440, 441. 
Wild, Daniel, 41K: Kli.«iha, 407, 415; 
Jesse, .37.3, 374; John, 40.3. 407. 410. 
412,414,415; John Q , 518. 605; Jon- 
athan. :VS4. :585, 403, 418, .5.56, 628; 
Jose])li, 408, 410. 412, 413; Levi, 408. 
414,627; Micah, 408, 412 ; Michael, 
171, 515; Nathaniel. 603; Paul. 2;W, 
422; Knth, 1.57 ; Samuel, 407, 415; 
Silas, 1.^)7, .■!95, 404, 405, 417, 62H; Wil- 
liam, 401, 40.-., 40,S, 411. 412. 
Wilder, Daniel, 420, 124; Robert, 420: 

Thomas 420. 
Wildm;in, Henrv G.. 440. 
Wilkins, Brav. 69. 

Willard, Daniel, 124, .560; Edward, 
410,.560; Mary, 124: Mr., 320; Sarah, 
124; Scretarv 2.50; Solomon, 10.5, 
lOS, 109, 146, 147, 3.36, .501, .502, .503, 
.504, .50.5, rm, ,508. .509, 510, 511. 512, 
5i:i, 514, .517; William, .501, .502. 
Willett, Aimer, 237, .332. 



660 



INDEX TO NAMES. 



Willey, (Willy), George, 560; John 

T., 175. 
Williams, Bishop, 279; Ebenezer, 628; 

Francis, 169, 179, 278, 604, 605; 

George B., 282, 289; John, 421, 422, 

425, 440, 441; John S., 169, 443; Mas- 

cal, 177; Nathaniel, 30; Rev. Mr., 

224, 287; Stedinan, 443. 
Willicut, Zebulon, 421. 
Willis, Jonathan, 374; Stephen, 560. 
Wilmet, Thomas, 16, 560. 
Wilson, Charles, 516; Edward, 560: 

George F., 179, 329; Henry, 610; 

Isabella, 136; Jabez, 136; Jacob, 30; 

James E., 294; John, 11, 21, 22, 23, 

24, 33, 45, 55,68, 181, 184,563; Nellv, 

136; Rev. Mr., 113; Thirsey, 136; 

William, 187. 
Winchester, Alexander, 11, 535, 536, 

537, 559, 562. 
Winniett, John, 477. 
-jWinslovv, Edward. 252, 253, 254, 255, 

257, 390,416,477; Isaac, 474, 475, 

476, 477, 478, 480; Joshua, 254, 477; 

Major, 44. 

Winter, Andrew, 481; Timothy, 560. 
-^ Winthrop, John. (Gov.), 181, 184, 185, 
188, 189, 198, 356, 357; John, Jr., 
11, 31, 38, 450, 453, 454, 464, 472; 
Mr., 320; Robert C, 610. 

Wise, Jeremiah, 323. 



Wiseman, James, 30. 

Withington, Lemuel, 626; Samuel, 89. 

Witty, Goodwife, 548. 

Wolcott, , 21, 22; Calvin, 255. 

Wollaston, Capt., 1, 17. 

Wood, Henry, 38, 106, 109, 241, 242, 
511, 515; Nicholas, 16, 560; Samuel, 
403, 409; Thomas, 447; William, 
241, 243, 335, 501; William, 438; & 
Cleverly, 603. 

Wooddas, Richard, 30. 

Woodlauder, John, 560. 

Woodman, Horatio, 449. 
/Woodward, Ebenezer, 238, 344, 526,v^ 
596; Mary A. W.,597. 

Woolridge, , 19. 

Woolworth, Aaron, 28fi. 

Wright, (Right), Abel, 109, 517; Eli- 
zur, 610; George, 30; Josephine, 341; 
Richard, 11, 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 316, 
535, 536, 545, 559; Samuel, 560; & 
Barker, 109, 517. 

Wyman, George, 447. 



Yearly, John, 560. 
York, James, 560. 
Young, Capt., 174; Cora I., 352. 



Zabriskie, F. N., 267. 



